Fen Management Handbook - Scottish Natural Heritage

Grazing re-introduction
CCW introduced grazing by lightweight hardy Welsh Mountain Ponies in the late
1980s (Photo 4), with the largest of the fens (Cors Erddreiniog) serving as the
initial focus. A year-round regime is practised, with overall site stocking rates of the
order of 0.45 ponies per ha but with stock movement and enclosure being used
to give temporary actual rates of up to 1.4 ponies/ha. The ponies graze a wide
variety of vegetation types but are most effective in low to medium height swards of
alkaline fen (M13) and fen meadow (M22, M24), tending to avoid ranker vegetation
unless enclosed and provided with rides and paths to encourage access. However,
even with such provisos stock tend to concentrate on the relatively few short and
open areas, ignoring the taller vegetation. The provision of adjacent dry ground
encourages dunging off the fen and is important for lying up and more generally
during the winter and other wet periods. Husbandry requirements are relatively
modest and include weekly stock counts on all sites, routine and veterinary care,
daily/weekly winter supplementary feeding with pony nuts and periodic movement
of stock within sites and also off-site to coastal dune systems. Foaling mares lead
to excesses of stock, with young animals exported to other conservation projects
in Wales and beyond. Retaining herds with stallions has been found to encourage
the more adventurous movement of stock around sites and helps prevent
concentrated grazing. Geldings can produce similar effects because territorial
behaviour encourages some spreading of stock across sites. Handling pens at
site access points have been found essential to enable loading and movement
between sites. Overall, ponies play an important and cost-effective role in helping
maintain rich-fen vegetation, but for best effect need to be used in conjunction with
mowing, enclosure and, ideally, cattle grazing. During the summer months (April
to September) grazing rates of around 1 pony/ha have been found to be most
effective. Cattle are used on a very limited basis on the Welsh fens, but can be
effective in helping to tackle tall rank fen vegetation.
Pony grazing at Cors
Bodeilio NNR
(Pete Jones).
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