Inlet and Estuary - Gower - page 199

FIG 112. Ponies and sheep grazing on the marsh at Wernffrwd. (Harold Grenfell)
Intotal the marshes onthe southern side ofthe estuary cover anarea of1,098hectares, approximately
half of the salt marsh in the estuary. All this salt marsh is grazed, in contrast to the salt marsh on the north
side, which is one of the best national examples of ungrazed salt marsh. The ownership of the area is di-
vided between the Crown Estate, the Duke of Beaufort's Somerset Trust, the National Trust and a private
landowner. Many of the commoners are farmers who have lands within the Manors of Landimore, Weob-
ley or Llanrhidian with rights over the manorial wastes including the marshes.
From time immemorial the commoners have moved their sheep according to tide and season, and as
there is a substantial tidal range in the Burry the farmers need to consult their tide tables when managing
their stock. A 7.0 metre tide causes no problems and will not cover any of the grass, while a 7.5 metre
tide covers about half the marsh and an 8.0 metre tide covers the whole marsh. Wind speed also has an
effect on the height and speed of the tide, while the tide tends to fill the many pills and reans first, cutting
off the exit from the marshes. As a result some sheep have to be moved on a 7.5 metre tide and all sheep
on an 8.0 metre tide. Each farmer knows the area where his sheep may be grazing and therefore the time
available before high tide to move animals.
In contrast to the sheep, which will drown if left out unattended, the ponies know the marsh well and
will walk in with the tide. Sometimes they will remain standing on the higher ground, even up to their
stomachs in the water, knowing that the tide will eventually go out. Occasionally ponies standing in this
way are forced off by the depth of water and then swim in single file to the shore led by the dominant
mare. Unfortunately well-meaning but uninformed members of the public who do not know the ways of
the marsh see ponies standing deep in the water, assume that they are going to drown and ring the police,
the RSPCA and other organisations. Despite regular publicity about the issue the perception continues.
Thegrazingisgoodandtheanimalsthriveonit.Beingcoveredbythetidetwiceadayinthecourseof
the tidal cycle brings nutrients and silts which feed the sward throughout the seasons. There is a problem
for the sheep, however, in constantly eating salt-washed, silt-laden turf in that they lose their teeth early.
The lambing cycle of a ewe on the marsh is only about three crops whereas a hill farmer would expect