Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of Bath, James Grieve, Allington Pippin and Worcester Pearmain, but there are no site-specific records.
An immense number of local fruit varieties exist in Britain, and these cultivars are an important wildlife
element in their own right. It is possible therefore that varieties of apple particular to Gower once existed,
and indeed they may still do so, remaining unrecognised perhaps on a single dying tree. Even now it is
not too late, if there is the support of the farmers and landowners, to rescue the orchard heritage of the
peninsula.
THE FUTURE
Despite the potential loss of the orchard heritage, the conservation of the woods and hedges seems as-
sured. The larger areas of woodland are now protected by statutory designations, and through the efforts
of the Coed Cymru initiative many of the small farm woodlands are under better management than they
have been for decades. More still needs to be done, however, especially in relation to those woodlands on
farms that are being managed under the Tir Cymen or Tir Gofal agri-environment schemes. Hedges too
are being revitalised and managed more sympathetically for wildlife as part of these schemes. In contrast,
the survival of arable plants depends very much on the continuation of relatively low-intensity arable
farming, and the prospect for this is by no means assured.
