Four sheep for every Welshman
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Wales now has too many sheep and they are eating and trampling the countryside to ruin, according to conservationists, writes Roger Dobson.
A record number of 11 million sheep are currently grazing the valleys and mountainsides, outnumbering humans in the principality four to one. European Union subsidies, making it profitable for farmers to increase stocks, are thought to be responsible for the figure, which has risen from six million in 1971 and 8.2 million 10 years later.
As a result of their numbers, conservationists say, plant life is fast disappearing, turf is being too closely cropped and vegetation on mountain peaks is being trampled to destruction as the sheep jostle shoulder to shoulder for scarce food.
"We are very concerned that the number of sheep is causing long term harm to much of the Welsh uplands," Dr Malcolm Smith, chief scientist of the Countryside Council for Wales, said yesterday. "We know there is severe overgrazing on some of our major uplands to the extent that certain plant communities have been more or less eliminated.
"Because of the heavy grazing, in certain parts of Snowdonia there is now not much resistance in the thin vegetation when people walk on it."
Margaret Minhinnick, director of the environmental group Sustainable Wales, said: "There are too many sheep in Wales and farmers should be encouraged to diversify. That number of sheep can do considerable damage in sensitive areas, and there is the added problem of sheep dip. We now know how toxic the dip is and a considerable amount of it must be being used in Wales for that number of sheep." The Welsh Office agriculture department is now telling graziers in the Carneddau area of Snowdonia to reduce sheep numbers by half.
"We commissioned a survey which revealed serious overgrazing which was damaging the vegetation," said a Welsh Office spokeswoman.
"The survey conclusions have been presented to the graziers. The objective now is to reach mutual agreement to achieve the stock reduction. In the last resort the Secretary of State is entitled to reduce subsidy payments."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments