Covering some 360 ha,  is one of the UK’s finest protected areas, boasting up to 14 different habitats, a wealth of wildlife species and the UK’s only turlough (naturally fluctuating inland lake). Sadly, over the years, this beautiful landscape has been badly affected by quarrying while traditionally managed grasslands have been abandoned, or damaged by intensive agriculture. After many years of campaigning by wildlife organisations, in 1999 the whole area was made a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive, and part of it a National Nature Reserve. In 2005 The Grasslands Trust took over responsibility for the management of the western side of the NNR, and now manages 59 hectares of grassland habitat. Our vision is to make Carmel NNR part of a vast area of wildness and wildlife stretching as far as the horizon; a continuous stretch of wildlife-rich countryside which goes on for miles.  

An award of £199,000 from the Welsh Assembly Government has enabled us to undertake substantial restoration work, and to improve the infrastructure and management of the site, and we are currently planning the next phase of our work at Carmel; enabling more people to get involved in using, enjoying, and conserving this remarkable place. Our plans were boosted recently when we won a grant of £45,000 from the National Lottery’s People’s Millions Fund – our project featured on ITV Wales, and secured the highest number of public votes, enabling us to recruit and train volunteers to support a conservation project in the woodland area of Carmel. 

The Grasslands Trust was established in 2002 to address the crisis facing the UK’s wildlife rich grasslands, 97% of which have been destroyed in the last 60 years. Our mission is to reinstate grasslands as a significant part of our natural heritage, for the benefit of people and wildlife. To find out more about our work and how you can support us, please visit www.grasslands-trust.org