There is good news about Fell Ponies and conservation grazing, and there is also work to be done to utilize more Fell Ponies on the landscape for conservation work.
Conservation grazing is the use of grazing animals to manipulate landscapes towards certain conservation goals. Sometimes there are also incentives for using rare breeds of livestock. Conservation grazing is yet another job that a Fell Pony does well!
The Fell Pony is currently being used as a conservation grazer in parts of its native terrain and other places too. Here are some of the places in Cumbria, England, and worldwide:
The Helm, Ennerdale, and Rochdale. Click here.
Egremont, Gowbarrow Hall Farm, and Oregon. Click here. This article also contains general information about what makes a Fell Pony a good conservation grazer.
The Helm again and general information about conservation grazing with Fell Ponies, in Nicola Evan’s interview on The Fell Pony Podcast (click here).
Other breeds are also being used as conservation grazers in northern England and southern Scotland, suggesting there may be room for expanded use of Fell Ponies in the role. Click here to read more.
Land managers in need of conservation grazers often need things to be easy. Some organizations have created business models around conservation grazing. Click here to read more.
Conservation grazing sites often include wet, watery, or boggy areas. Fell Ponies have sometimes been passed over for project at these sites, but many Fell Ponies are quite at home in water. Click here to read more.
There is good news about Fell Ponies and conservation grazing, and there is also work to be done to utilize more Fell Ponies on the landscape for conservation work. Other breeds are utilized through not-for-profit organizations that are turnkey solutions for land stewards. Could a similar not-for-profit utilize Fell Ponies?