Exmoor ponies

The Exmoor pony originates from the area of moorland that embraces parts of Somerset and Devon. It is well adapted to moorland conditions i.e. rain, snow and poor grazing. The breed is recorded in the Domesday Book and has largely maintained its characteristic appearance through to the present day. It has been used for riding and pulling vehicles. Claims for it being a breed from prehistoric times are disputed but it it has notable similarities to cave drawings of ponies. The pony came close to extinction post-WW2 and in recent years the number of animals in the UK is thought to have increased to 95 with a world-wide population of c.330.

These ponies are some of at least four animals used (in conjunction with Highland cattle and Hebridean sheep) to develop and maintain heathland in Woorgreens Nature Reserve in the Forest of Dean.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Highland cow, Woorgreens Nature Reserve

Woorgreens Nature Reserve is an area of heathland in the Forest of Dean. It is 104 acres (42 hectares) in size and includes a small lake and wet areas. The site is managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust who are seeking to retain and widen its heathland characteristics to make it attractive to a greater range of wildlife. They are employing three types of large grazing animals to help them achieve their target. Highland cattle are the largest and we came upon several gathered under a stand of conifers by the edge of the reserve. This particular animal, one of the traditional ginger coloured animals - there are black Highland cattle too - posed very nicely to have its photograph taken. My first impression was that the cattle had cowbells round their necks, but closer inspection showed them to be GPS collars to ensure that the cattle remain in the required areas.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Cattle as habitat managers

Walking through Woorgreens Nature Reserve in the Forest of Dean, an area of heathland and a lake, we came across six young Highland cattle. Some were the traditional ginger/brown, the others black. They were introduced in 2019 to restore, create and maintain the heathland by grazing the bramble, coarse grasses and gorse, as well as restricting the bracken by trampling it. This will allow a wider range of plant species to flourish and attract a greater variety of insects, amphibians and birds.

A few weeks earlier, when the cloud was low, we had seen the Belted Galloways of May Hill going about similar work. These cattle, however, sported bells, something we haven't seen in Britain before.

photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Woorgreens Lake, Forest of Dean

Woorgreens Lake and Marsh is a 22 acre (9 hectare) nature reserve in the Forest of Dean that is managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and the Forestry Commission with the assistance of a population of 10 Exmoor ponies and 6 English longhorn cattle. It was formerly the site of open cast coal mining that ceased in 1981. On the day of our visit the only water birds in evidence were some mallards, moorhens and about half a dozen goosanders. However, the sky was graced by an interesting formation of clouds that were reflected on the almost still surface of the lake.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Skylarks and bombers

This photograph of a skylark with a beak full of insect for its brood was taken on the former RAF Woodhall Spa airfield in Lincolnshire. In WW2 this flat area of, essentially, lowland heath, was once a place where the ground and skies were crowded with Avro Lancaster four-engine bombers engaged in the bombing of occupied Europe. It then became a place where gravel was dug resulting in large stretches of open water and smaller pools. Today it is a nature reserve in the making and the skies are now filled with greylag geese, skylarks, black-headed gulls, little egrets, buzzards and much more. The obliging bird pictured above posed perfectly, allowing me to get off six hand-held shots, all of which were pretty sharp.


photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900