The Welsh government is providing funding for farmers wishing to maintain, restore or construct traditional boundaries in three counties. Grants are available under the rural development programme to build hedgerows, stonewalls and habitat networks in Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire. image expired

Two such schemes have been launched; one is the Conwy Habitat Network Scheme, delivered by Conwy Council and the other is the Flintshire & Denbighshire Hedgerow and Traditional Boundaries Grant Scheme, delivered by Cadwyn Clwyd.

Funders say the grants are aimed at small-scale projects where other funding is not available. The projects aim to increase the uptake of traditional boundaries, which has tailed off since fences now dominate much of the landscape. This has resulted in many hedges and walls being left in a dilapidated state.

However, as fencing doesn’t provide the same shelter for wildlife or farm animals as do traditional boundaries, there has been a renewed interest in rebuilding many of the traditional boundaries in rural Wales.