Species ‘at risk of vanishing’ from area of Eryri National Park

Another project which will benefit is Tlysau Mynydd Eryri (Mountain Jewels of Eryri), part of a conservation partnership led by Plantlife Cymru to protect the future of some of the rarest alpine plants in Wales.

Ecological surveys and regular monitoring will map the impact of the restoration work, using species such as the woodcock and otter, and plants including aspen and juniper to give an idea of the health of the valley.

The work will also build on innovative use of GPS livestock collars to manage grazing more precisely.

Cwm Idwal Partnership Officer Rhys Wheldon-Roberts said monitoring was “really important because it allows us to graze in the right areas at the right densities and at the right time”.

He added: “The collars on the cattle allow us to move the cattle around the landscape and you can monitor it as you go, and the farmers can see that data live on their apps.

“It can make grazing something much more effective for the cattle and for nature.”

As well as local farmers, there will be an emphasis on community involvement and volunteering as part of the work.

“There are opportunities for people to get involved in monitoring, in volunteering, just learning about the landscape in general,” said Wheldon-Roberts.

“Here in Cwm Idwal we have lots of school visits every year and they’ll be able to see the effects of the project and the effect that the cattle are having in that conservation grazing way, so it’s really exciting in that regard as well.

“By bringing people along with us they get a chance to learn and hopefully appreciate, and ultimately try to protect this special landscape that we’ve got around us.”

The project is being funded by nearly £1m from the Nature Networks Fund, external, delivered by the Heritage Fund on behalf of the Welsh government and in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.

“What we’re trying to do with this project is set a foundation for the future,” said Rogers.

“Some things will change in the next three years, but what we’re doing is setting ourselves up so that recovery can continue for decades afterwards.”