In the UK more than 75% of land is farmed, most of this having been in agriculture for many thousands of years. During this time a matrix of habitats rich in biodiversity has developed, much of this derived from the complex interaction between different grazing animals and plant life.

During the 20th Century, technology and government initiatives helped agriculture to find higher output solutions that provided a greater level of food security for an increasing population. In the course of this, farming systems changed to become more specialised and intensive - factors that reduced biodiversity.

In the 1990's it became clear that farmers were struggling to find the right sort of livestock and management advice for the kind of grazing regimes that encourage biodiversity, as a result a number of initiatives were established. The Hampshire Grazing Project is one of the most important of these and deals with the process of Conservation Grazing, ie grazing specifically to improve the conservation value of the land. Although the following analysis details landscapes and ecosystems in Hampshire, many of these are widely replicated throughout the UK.

‘Conservation grazing’ is the use of grazing animals to manage sites of conservation interest to encourage the wildlife that they support. However, in addition to the needs of the wildlife, those of the livestock must also be borne in mind. Grazing animals need sufficient food and water and must be able to graze a site without risks to their long-term welfare. The interaction between stock and visitors may also need to be considered. Some breeds are more docile than others and cattle or ponies are less likely to be affected by dogs than sheep. Successful conservation grazing thus requires a management regime that meets a variety of considerations including wildlife, welfare and visitor needs.

Grazing and Semi-Natural Habitats
Most grazing land was created through clearing trees and scrub for grazing many thousands of years ago. This has encouraged the development of specialised communities of plants and animals that will eventually disappear if grazing ceases. Hampshire, like many counties, contains threatened habitats including heathlands, chalk downs, unimproved meadows and pastures. Appropriate grazing of these habitats is vital to ensure they remain in good condition for wildlife. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and their wildlife interest declines as a result. Under-grazing, over-grazing or improvement through ploughing and the addition of fertilisers all reduce the richness and variety of plants and animals present.

Appropriate Grazing
Appropriate grazing helps maintain the openness of downland and heathland landscapes as well as enhancing their biodiversity. It can also help improve access for people by maintaining shorter swards and controlling scrub. Grazing suppresses coarse grasses and woody plants, helping prevent transition from grassland to scrub and woodland. Rare and delicate species also benefit from variations in the vegetation due to grazing. Even the ‘gaps’ created in the sward by animals’ hooves allow plants to germinate.

Complete abandonment of grazing however, will lead to loss of diversity with scrub and woodland ingress. Where grazing has ceased completely, the trees and scrubs may need to be thinned before livestock can be re-introduced to improve the the conservation and wildlife interest.

Many native plants and animals do not thrive under intensive modern agricultural systems and have become very scarce. To encourage these species, grazing on conservation sites must often be less intensive than on adjacent farmland.

Sites 'improved' through the addition of fertilisers, ploughing or degraded by over-grazing can gradually be restored by reverting to a less intensive regime. However, it can take a long time for the soil fertility to fall sufficiently for some of the rarest plants and animals to return as these only thrive on impoverished soils.

Choosing the Right Grazing Regime
There are a number of general principles that should be considered:

• Low intensity grazing with a few animals over a period of months is usually better than short-term grazing with large numbers.
• Heavy grazing will encourage species that tolerate such conditions at the expense of others.
• Heavy grazing can lead to poaching of the ground with weeds and impeded drainage resulting.
• Insufficient grazing allows coarse grasses to flourish and reduces diversity (particularly of flowers).
• Grazing during late summer can have less impact on flowering plants and invertebrates.
• Combined spring and autumn grazing is more effective at controlling scrub than either option alone.
• Grazing in winter can cause serious poaching on wet sites and has minimal impact on scrub re-growth.
• Supplementary feeding should be kept to a minimum and utilise an area on the site of low conservation value such as a corral. Mineral licks may be required to ensure that the animals are not short of particular trace elements.

The Hampshire Grazing Project
The Hampshire Grazing Project is a three-year initiative funded by Hampshire County Council and English Nature. It aims to encourage appropriate grazing on land of conservation value throughout the county and is working to overcome the problems highlighted in this article through:

• Provision of a central contact point for conservation grazing.
• Running the ‘Hampshire Grazing Forum’ – an informal support network for those involved in conservation grazing.
• Supporting existing grazing initiatives and developing new ones.
• Finding appropriate stock for site managers and grazing for graziers.
• Organising training events and seminars (e.g. stock husbandry and welfare).
• Raising awareness of the conservation benefits of grazing among the public, local authorities, conservationists & farmers.

The Project offers free advice and support to site managers and graziers as well as grants for work such as fencing and water provision.
Please contact the Project Officer for further information:-

Damian Offer
Hampshire Grazing Project,
Environment Group
Hampshire County Council,
The Castle,
Winchester,
Hampshire, SO23 8UE.
Tel. 01962 846 521
Fax 01962 846 776

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