FURTHER to the Earl of Cardigan's letter in last week's Gazette about the wood pasture enclosure in Savernake Forest, it may be helpful to provide some explanation of English Nature's aim in setting up this project with Forest Enterprise.

Savernake Forest is nationally important for its large numbers of ancient pollarded trees and relict wood pasture. This historic management supports a range of wildlife not commonly seen now.

The practice of pollarding was used to get a wood crop by cutting stems above head height, such that the regrowth would be out of reach from livestock grazing underneath. The large scale tree planting in the last 60 years has radically changed what was once an open grazed parkland landscape.

Organic cattle have been reintroduced and are grazing the woodland floor and nibbling on its shrubs to recreate the naturally open glades, ideal for the ancient oak and beech pollards and their specialist lichen communities.

Forest edge and grassland plants, fungi and birds, such as the tree pipit and spotted flycatcher, will particularly benefit from wood pasture.

The dung from the cattle supports a large and varied insect community, enhancing the food supply for the forest's shrews, hedgehogs, bats and birds. Local people now have the opportunity to see White Park cattle, one of Britain's rarest and oldest breeds.

Since the original Gazette article, English Nature has been delighted by the response of volunteers wanting to help the farmer with safety and welfare checks.

If readers would like to find out more please contact David Hodd of the Wiltshire interactive grazing initiative (01980) 620590.

GERRY HAMERSLEY

Team Manager

Wiltshire Team

English Nature

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