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Ardal fach o dir comin, ychydig llai na 100ha, yw Garn Goch sydd ar gyrion pentref Bethlehem, ym Mharc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog. Mae’r pwynt uchaf yn codi i 236m, lle ceir golygfeydd helaeth o ddyffryn Tywi, yn estyn o Landeilo yn y Gorllewin i Langadog yn y Dwyrain. Mae i’r tir comin gryn bwysigrwydd archeolegol, a cheir arno ddwy gaer o’r Oes Efydd (700CC - 75AD), Gaer Fach a Gaer Fawr. Gaer Fawr yw un o’r caerau mwyaf yng Nghymru. Mae 89% o’r safle wedi’i ddynodi’n heneb gofrestredig ac mae’n byrlymu o hanes lleol.

Yn 2004 daeth y tir comin yn rhan o’r cynllun amaeth-amgylcheddol Tir Gofal, er mwyn ceisio ailsefydlu trefn bori reolaidd ymysg y 10 daliad sydd wedi cofrestru hawliau pori. Gellir rhannu’r tir yn dri chategori o safbwynt cynefin - glaswelltir heb ei wella, gwaun uchel, a choetir llydanddail lled-naturiol a borir. Serch hynny, dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf mae bron â bod yr holl ardal wedi cael ei gorchuddio’n llwyr gan redyn a mieri, sy’n golygu ei bod bron â bod yn amhosibl rheoli’r arfer o bori’r safle. Gyda chymorth cyllid cychwynnol gan Gyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru ac yna gwaith dilynol a chyllid gan Barc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog, cafodd yr holl ardal ei chwistrellu â chymorth hofrennydd ac yna gan wardeiniaid ar y safle ei hun er mwyn ceisio rheoli’r broblem hon. Cafodd ffensys eu codi o amgylch yr ardal gyfan a gosodwyd dau grid gwartheg er mwyn cadw stoc yno. Gobeithir y bydd gwartheg, defaid a cheffylau yn gallu rheoli’r rhedyn a’r drysi sy’n aildyfu, a hefyd atal rhagor o goetir rhag datblygu ar y glaswelltir a’r waun.

Garn Goch is a small common of just under 100ha situated on the outskirts of Bethlehem, in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The highest point rises to 236m, with extensive views of the Tywi valley stretching from Llandeilo in the West to Llangadog in the East. The common is noted for its archaeological importance, and the two ramparted Iron Age (700BC - 75AD) hill forts, Gaer Fach and Gaer Fawr, the latter being one of the largest in Wales. With 89% of the site designated as a scheduled ancient monument it is steeped in local history.

In 2004 the common was entered into the Tir Gofal agri-environment scheme, with the aim to reinstate a regular grazing regime amongst the 10 holdings who have registered common rights. It can be divided into three habitat categories - unimproved grassland, upland heath, and grazed semi-natural broadleaved woodland. In recent years however, the area had become almost entirely covered in bracken and bramble, making any grazing management of the site virtually impossible.

Initially with the help of CCW funding and then follow-up work and funding by the BBNPA, the area has been sprayed by helicopter and then by warden staff on the ground to control this problem. The whole area was fenced and two cattle grids installed to make it stockproof, and it is hoped that cattle, sheep and horses will then be able to control excessive bracken and bramble re-growth, and also prevent further woodland incursions onto the grassland and heathland areas.

By Toby Small

Download a copy of the Garn Goch management plan