Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Both the benefits and potentially less desirable consequences must be considered before
introducing grazing. Animals will not graze all parts of a fen equally if they are free to roam
widely. Other practices such as cutting, mowing and scrub management may also be required to
complement grazing.
The Grazing Animals Project (GAP) has established and documented significant experience of
grazing various different habitats, including fens, which can be found in the GAP handbooks or
through the GAP website http://www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk. Some of the key considerations
in relation to grazing on fens are summarised below.
6.2.1 Which fens benefit from grazing?
Grazing should be considered wherever the desired vegetation is low, open and species-rich,
but vulnerable to being taken over by tall aggressive species, many of which consolidate their
dominance through the build-up of dense litter. Fen meadows dominated by purple moor-grass
(Molinia caerulea) and rushes but with a rich diversity of associated herb and sedge species (NVC
communities M22, M24 and M26), are obvious candidates for regular grazing to maintain their
species diversity. Other much wetter fens, such as NVC communities S27 and M9, may be grazed
on a more ad hoc basis. (See Appendix IV for further details of NCV communities found on fens.)
Open species-rich fen in the foreground
maintained by extensive grazing by suckler
cows. Tall reeds and herbs dominate the
ungrazed fen beyond the fenceline in the
middle distance, which prevents cattle from
moving into the wettest part of the fen where
they might drown (B. Hamill).
Drier fen meadows are
ideal candidates for grazing
management
(B. Hamill).
Fast-growing plants that cause unwanted change may be responding to more than
one factor. It could simply be the cessation of a previous grazing regime, and/
or a change in nutrient status, such as over-bank flooding from a river which has
become more eutrophic. Whatever the cause, re-introduction of grazing is likely to
be beneficial by removing biomass and reducing the nutrient content of the soil.
Field surveyor kneeling
in short transition mire
maintained by light grazing
in the foreground which
contrasts with unmanaged
taller fen vegetation in the
background (B. Hamill).
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