Banc y Celyn, Brecknockshire - Royal Commission on the Ancient ...

Uplands Initiative – <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> 2008This low-scale level of quarrying is not untypical of this part of Breconshire andadjacent parts of Radnorshire, where the geology mitigates against quarrying on anindustrial scale.Oral evidence, provided by the farmers at Gelli Rhydd and Fforest farms, indicates thatthe British Army did not take possession of the common within the <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> studyarea, when they occupied the main part of the Mynydd Epynt uplands in 1940.Therefore, the land here has continued to be used as summer pasture throughout the 20 thcentury, without a break. Changes to the agricultural regime are clearly having an effecton the <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> land. The reduction of stocking rates has prevented over-grazingon the common, but as a result invasive gorse is taking hold in many parts of the studyarea. Oral testimonies from local farmers on <strong>Banc</strong> y <strong>Celyn</strong> in 2009, and nearbyAberedw in 2008, indicate that gorse has spread onto the common pastures within thepast 30 to 40 years and its growth rate is increasing. This trend which may mean thatwithin a few decades much of what is now open and accessible common land willbecome difficult to cross, with consequences for access to the archaeologicalmonuments of the area. With potentially fewer working farms in the district in future, areduced need for winter bedding may also see a decline or end to the long-held traditionof bracken cutting, which would also have implications for access to many parts of thecommon. These issues are undoubtedly pressing in many of the upland areas of Powys.Plate 10: A view from Cefn Gledwen, northwards towards Groeswen Farm (centre) andNantyroffeiriad Farm (extreme left), showing the typical farmed landscape around thefringes of Mynydd Epynt. Many of these farms continue to use the mountain pastureand some still cut and bale bracken on the common.28