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Rhos on Sea Dog Walkers Grassed Off

Published Date: 17 June 2009
By Anna Glover
CONCERNED dog walkers fear a local historic beauty spot could be filled with grazing livestock.
At a recent meeting of Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve's Management Committee, Rhos on Sea, members discussed protecting a rare form of grass which grows at the site. Suggestions included placing animals on upper land to encourage the grass to grow.

Dog walkers gathered at the site this week, to object to the proposals. Susan Davies, who regularly uses the site to walk her dog, feared ponies and horses would be introduced to the grassland. She said: "I am extremely angry by the total lack of consultation the people of Rhos and all other interested parties have received. Until recent years the Bryn was never strimmed yet still managed to attain SSSI status.

"I thought the area had been given to the council for the people not for fences and gates to be put all over it. My kids have loved the freedom to play there and sledge at the first signs of snow. The dog walking community gather and chat, clubs, schools and colleges use it without having to consider livestock."

Some areas of Bryn Euryn attained Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the rare limestone grass.

Alun Jones, warden for the area, said the grass was originally maintained by grazing livestock, but over the last ten years contractors have been brought in to mow the land. He said: "No decisions have been made, but if it goes ahead we are only looking at four months of the year. It would be more environmentally friendly in the long run. There would be two paddocks of livestock, we are thinking of sheep, ponies or donkeys.

"There would be no fences just gates and public access. We will take people's views on board nothing has been decided. We are not seeking to curb dog walkers. I can understand why they are upset. We would ask them to keep them on a lead and then let them run free outside the paddocks."

Rhos on Sea councillor, Phil Edwards, who is on the management committee for the reserve, said grazing livestock was part of the natural cycle and would encourage the rare grass to grow.


http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/Rhos-on-Sea-Dog-Walkers.5372763.jp