TIR GOFAL - the agri-environment scheme for Wales

Tir Gofal - 2000-2001

From the period April 2000 - March 2001 Dyfed Archaeological Trust dealt with pre-application enquiries for 46 holdings. For each of these farms a list of archaeological sites from the HER was provided along with sites identified from historic maps and other sources. During this period Dyfed Archaeological Trust also prepared a total of 305 HE1 reports. Of these, 90 were in response to Year 1 consultations from the Countryside Council for Wales and 215 were in response to Year 2 consultations.

For Year 1 applications, 20% of all farms were selected for a Historic Environment 2 (HE2) report involving a documentary search and farm visit. Funding for this stage of the work was provided by the Countryside Council for Wales. During the period April 2000-March 2001, the 28 remaining Year 1 visits were undertaken. For year 2 applications 22% of farms were to be visited. However, only 3 Year 2 farm visits were undertaken due to the onset of the foot and mouth crisis.

Tir Gofal - 1999-2000

Dyfed Archaeological Trust has a number of roles within the Tir Gofal scheme. Information is provided to farmers about archaeological sites and features on their farms at pre-application stage in order to support their applications. Information on the archaeological interest on the farms of successful applicants is then provided by the Head of Heritage Management and the Historic Environment Officer to the Countryside Council for Wales. This includes details of site locations and descriptions, historic landscape information and management advice. This process enables the farmer to manage the historic environment in an appropriate way. This aspect of our work within the Tir Gofal scheme is funded by Cadw. Some farms are selected for a more detailed archaeological survey involving a farm visit. This stage is funded by the Countryside Council for Wales.

Dyfed Archaeological Trust received 32 pre-application enquiries during the first year of the scheme. For each of these farms a list of archaeological sites from the HER was provided along with sites identified from historic maps and other sources. Following the ranking procedure, 271 successful Tir Gofal applications were then forwarded to Dyfed Archaeological Trust by the Countryside Council for Wales. All of these received comments in the form of an Historic Environment 1 report (HE1) from the Heritage Management Section. This identifies all sites recorded in the HER and provides appropriate management advice. It also highlights areas of archaeological potential where no previous archaeological work has been undertaken and may include a recommendation that an archaeological survey of the farm (a farm visit) should be undertaken.

During the first year of the scheme, 20% of the successful farms were selected for a farm visit resulting in an HE2 report. This entails documentary research in the HER and, where time and resources allow, visits to record offices and libraries. This research is followed by a walk-over survey of the farm targeting sites identified from the documentary research. The HE2 report contains detailed descriptions and provides management advice on specific archaeological sites and features, some of which may have been previously unrecorded. By the end of March 2000, 27 farm visits had been made.

Contact: Alice Pyper