Land use in Wales

It has an oceanic temperate climate which is markedly influenced by the North Atlantic Current carrying warm water from tropical latitudes.

Sheep-grazed pasture predominates in all of the lowland zone, with arable fields mainly confined to the east of the country, although specialised early potato enterprises are favoured by the mild climate of the western peninsulas of Llŷn and Pembrokeshire.

Some parts, like the Vale of Tywi and the coastal plain of Ceredigion are famed for dairy farming, as the combinations of soils and climate mean that good quality grass can be reliably grown.

In contrast, many more elevated parts of the Welsh land are of limited use for agriculture, and extensive upland conifer forests were planted in the years following the two world wars.

Wild habitats occupy steep land and other areas that are less profitable for commercial use, such as wetlands, moorlands and mountainous terrain.

Ffridd grasslands are areas of open, moderately or lightly grazed often minimally managed pastures on the partially enclosed slopes above the cultivated farmland, whilst oak woodlands are found on steep banks and valley sides, and there is an extensive assortment of moorland and mountain vegetation types.

Many forested areas are used for recreational activities like cycling, hiking and car rallying, whilst several of the rivers provide facilities for canoeists, and some of the lakes and reservoirs are popular for sailing.

Ley, or improved grasslands are periodically ploughed and re-seeded with cultivated varieties of grasses, sometimes combined with clover, which are deemed suitable for the extant soil and climatic conditions.

Pasture lands in the narrow sense are enclosed tracts of farmland, grazed by domesticated livestock, such as sheep, cattle, horses or pigs.

Over the period between 1950 and 1980 especially, farmers were encouraged and supported to undertake grassland improvement by ploughing, reseeding, fertiliser application and, where considered necessary, drainage."

It tends to be maintained by light grazing (usually by sheep), which inhibits the growth of trees and dwarf-shrubs like heather and bilberry, and promotes a species-poor plant community.

Drier forms of vegetation dominated by ling (Calluna vulgaris) and heathers (Erica species) often with bilberry and a variety of other specialised herbs and shrubs are termed heaths.

Coastal heathlands occur where cliff areas are fenced off from grazing stock, and wind exposure severely restricts tree growth.

[12] Most of the former Forestry Commission coniferous plantations are in the uplands at altitudes between 200 and 500 m. The highest mountains are beyond the tree-line, which is relatively low in Wales due to low summer temperatures, peaty soils and high wind speeds at altitudes above about 500 m. In recent years there has been some interest and research in the growing of fast-producing woodland crops like willow for biomass for energy production.