Deganwy Vardre Project

Members of the Deganwy History Group met on 17th July 2025 for an afternoon walk on the lower slopes of the Vardre. The walk was led by Julian Pitt, a member of our group and, since 2023, the Volunteer Warden for the Vardre project. We were also very fortunate to have contributions by Maureen Parry, a local botanist and another member of our group.

The walk began at the entrance to Betty’s Path with an introduction to the site and project by Julian. He explained that the site lies within a SSSI, the ‘citation’ for this identifying the site’s geological features and a plant community that includes several rare species. When Julian moved to the area seven years ago, he discovered that the SSSI was in an ‘unfavourable’ state. The rare habitat here is open grassland. However, grazing had ceased some years before on the two fields that form the heart of the site because of problems with dogs and gates being left open. Since grazing ceased, self-seeded Sycamore and Turkey oaks have encroached and, without intervention, the whole field would soon become woodland comprising non-native species of limited conservation value. The field was being used as short cut to climb the Vardre because the legal route of the public footpath on the quarry side of the fence had become overgrown. The quarry featuring the geological features mentioned in the SSSI citation was almost completely impenetrable with scrub including many varieties of Cotoneaster and tree saplings.

We commenced our walk and had several stops where Julian and Maureen described and explained the history, geology, botany and features of the site. We learnt about how changes in climate from the end of the Ice Age, 15,000 years ago, to the present day affected the flora and fauna of the site. It was interesting to note the relatively recent presence of grazing ‘megafauna’ including auroch, as well as wolf, bear and lynx. Several photos were passed around the group to show the changes wrought by now abandoned human habitation and past farming. The slopes here are covered with a thick deposit of sand. Pointing to shallow hollows that could have been sandpits, Julian suggested this was the nearest source of sand to make mortar used to build Deganwy Castle and much of old Deganwy village in more recent centuries. Another intriguing point concerned the remains of a stone and earth bank enclosure higher up the slope and Julian helped us to ponder on the possible past use of this. He intends to clear the enclosure of scrub, consult CADW and investigate further.

It was emphasised throughout our visit that the aim is not ‘re-wilding’ the site, but to achieve conservation aims by supporting reintroduction of traditional farming on the lower slopes now being reclaimed from scrub. The vegetation has been cut a number of times, using both machinery and hand-held tools. Many of the self-seeded trees have been felled, particularly Sycamore. The original route of the footpath has been cleared, so, on the whole, people no longer cut across the field. Once the field perimeter fence has been repaired the intention is that sheep can be brought back to graze.

We then went into the quarry where Julian and Maureen discussed the geology, uses for the extracted stone and the flora. Work has been started here to remove self-seeded Sycamores and the quarry has largely been cleared of Cotoneasters. As we walked back to the starting point the group had many questions for Julian and Maureen. The Vardre Project is obviously a long term one and we felt privileged to have visited as it gets underway with such dedicated individuals. Already there are encouraging signs of habitat improvement. As examples of this, grasses and herbs suitable for grazing are gradually increasing in areas only recently dominated by bracken and bramble, and small communities of Maiden Pink have appeared where the bracken has been cut.