2015 Yearbook

R E V I E W 31 Demand for grants inevitably exceeds supply, and conservation officers are always looking for other sources of grants to support repairs, including other budgets of the authority and those of other agencies. Snowdonia NPA aims to remove three per cent from the register every year. However, this does not mean that the list shrinks by three per cent every year. Scott Handley, who carried out the 2013 survey for Cadw, argues that the figures for buildings at risk are relatively constant across the region because poor maintenance ensures that there is a constant stream of new entries to the buildings at risk registers. In addition, many traditional buildings are not listed, but their contribution to the character of the landscape is substantial, and some of these become listed when their deterioration attracts the attention of the heritage team. The problems posed by redundant agricultural buildings are particularly complex. In order to target scarce resources most effectively, the conservation officer must have the assessment and surveying skills required to maintain the register, an understanding of the significance of the heritage asset, and an understanding of the economic issues, including the cost of repairs. As many of the details and materials are peculiarly local, an understanding of the traditional methods of construction are required both to guide owners and their contractors and to understand the cost implications. There is also the question of viability; is conservation sustainable if there is no long term use? Economic issues can include wider factors, such as the significance of heritage to the tourist economy – a consideration at the heart of the NPA concept itself. The Environment Act 1995 gave the NPAs two ‘statutory purposes’: to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the park; and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities to the public. The remit is thus extremely broad. Where built heritage is concerned, the NPA has to consider not only its heritage significance but also its value to wildlife and biodiversity. Traditionally constructed buildings and other features of the agricultural landscape often provide roosting sites for bats and birds such as swallows, swifts and barn owls, and so require specialist ecological advice. For example, the restoration of a small redundant barn near Harlech was complicated by the discovery of bats (illustrated opposite). A subsequent survey, by Ecology Services UK, revealed that this was the only known colony of lesser horseshoe bats within the vicinity of Coed Llechwedd, a site of special scientific interest. As well as offering a repair grant under Snowdonia NPA’s buildings at risk scheme, conservation officers were able to help the owners apply for grants from the Magnox Socio- economic scheme and from the Countryside Council for Wales (now Natural Resources Wales). Repairs were restricted to periods of the year when the bats were not present and the colony has now returned. Specialists employed in Snowdonia NPA’s planning department include agricultural officers, ecologists, two building conservation officers (both IHBC members) and an archaeologist, all of whom may be involved in the most complex cases. To some degree this skills range is replicated at a national level. As well as the officers of Cadw, who have a statutory role in applications for listed buildings and scheduled monument consent, Welsh Government employs contract managers for its Glastir grants, an agri-environment scheme which help farmers and landowners with a range of improvements, including the restoration of dry stone walls and traditional farm buildings. FIELD BOUNDARIES Unlike listed buildings there are no figures for surviving traditional field boundaries in Snowdonia, nor the proportion at risk. However, many are in urgent need of repair, and without significant grant aid, few farmers could afford to maintain them, despite their value as windbreaks for livestock. The contribution made by traditional field boundaries to the character of the agricultural and rural landscape is well recognised throughout the UK, and within the national parks they have special significance. Many of the details are unique to the local area, such as Snowdonia’s slate fencing, crawiau . Grants towards the restoration of dry stone walls and slate fencing are offered by both Snowdonia NPA (70% grants from the Conservation, Woodland and Agriculture department) and by the Welsh government (80% grants through Glastir). Craft training courses for dry stone wallers are occasionally run by the Snowdonia NPA and by the Dry Stone Walling Association. TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION SKILLS Pre-industrial architecture often displays distinctive construction details, particularly in rural areas. In the Snowdonia national park this is particularly apparent. In most of the region the abundance of natural slate which is easily split to form roofing slate and building stone, the difficulties of transportation, particularly in the hills and mountainous areas, and the harsh weather conditions all contribute to the form, textures, colours and details of its architecture. When conserving these buildings and structures today, it is common to use materials that match the original but without fully understanding how they were used. Traditional techniques picked up elsewhere are often mistakenly used in the belief that they are the same as those used here. Subtle differences are easily missed, but often the obvious ones are overlooked too, and over time the result is the gradual erosion of Idris Jones and Ifan Williams repairing a dry stone wall at Yr Ysgwrn in Trawsfynydd: the work was assisted with a grant from Snowdonia National Park Authority (Photo: Snowdonia NPA)