Controlled Burn To Improve Wildlife Habitat

A controlled burn was carried out on a conservation site near Llannon, Llanelli, last week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The privately owned site is part of a management agreement with the Caeau Mynydd Mawr Project, a scheme run by Carmarthenshire County Council which is working to improve habitat for the rare Marsh fritillary butterfly in the Cross Hands area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The objective of the burn, which was carefully planned with advice from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, was to restore an area of marshy grassland by removing the thatch of dead grass which had built up over recent years as a result of a lack of grazing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The site will be grazed by ponies in the summer and it is hoped that Marsh fritillaries will be seen again this year after a period of absence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Amanda Evans, a Conservation Project Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council, said: “The Caeau Mynydd Mawr project is very grateful to the fire service and the Tumble crew for their help in carrying out the burn. Grass fires can cause damage to property, livestock and wildlife if they occur without planning or at the wrong time of year, but the supervised burn went exactly as hoped. It also provided useful experience for the fire service in planning and controlling grass fires in the county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service works in partnership with land owners and managers to ensure that any controlled burns are managed correctly and in compliance with government legislation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anyone who is considering burning their land should contact Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service for advice on 03706060699 and ask for the Arson Reduction Team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​