Dartmoor Ponies Unleashed for Landscape Revival

Five Dartmoor ponies, three mares and two geldings, have been introduced to the National Trust's Wimpole Estate in Cambridgeshire. Their arrival marks a significant step in a multi-year effort to restore traditional parkland habitats. The ponies are specifically deployed to graze vigorously on thistles and other invasive plants.

These native rare breed ponies are ideal for conservation grazing, as they are hardy and gentle. Their grazing helps clear the ground, reducing weeds and promoting the growth of a more diverse range of grasses and wildflowers. This work is crucial for establishing the desired conditions beneath the estate's scattered trees.

This initiative is part of a broader conservation grazing program. After preparing specific areas, the ponies will move on, making way for cattle grazing that further supports wildlife and contributes to food production. The estate has been actively re-establishing parkland habitats over the past five years by planting thousands of trees.