Cattle grazing in Wiltshire wood will deliver bonus for nature
Nature and wildlife in an ancient Wiltshire wood are set for a major boost thanks to a new wood pasture project funded by a £38,000 grant to the Woodland Trust from Biffaward.
Biffaward is a multi-million pound environment fund managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), which utilises landfill tax credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.
Mackintosh Davidson Wood, situated at West Knoyle to the north of Shaftesbury in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), was acquired by the Trust in 1993 thanks to a generous benefactor. In the 1990s the Trust planted swathes of new native trees at the wood to join up fragments of existing ancient woodland with Hang Wood to the northeast – a situation that last existed in medieval times.
To create natural wood pasture, cross breed Hereford and Simmental cattle are now being introduced to graze fenced areas of the 57-hectare (141 acre) wood, improving biodiversity by controlling unwanted vegetation such as bramble to encourage healthier plant and animal life.
At least 20 species are set to benefit within the rich mosaic of ponds, springs and streams, old hedgerows and wet woodland - such as turtle dove, lesser spotted woodpecker, spotted flycatcher, soprano pipistrelle bat, duke of burgundy butterfly and great crested newt.
"Now that the new woodland has established itself we need to encourage it to flourish and develop in a natural way which reflects and compliments existing woodland," said Gordon Purdie, Trust woodland officer at Macintosh Davidson Wood.
"Allowing cattle to graze the meadow areas of new wood will help to maintain the open grassland character of wood pasture. Grazing creates diversity of meadow species which is good for the overall biodiversity of animals, birds and plants across the site."
"Ancient woodland is the UK’s most precious habitat and home to over 50% of all UK species, including many of the most vulnerable, and we need to act quickly to prevent further loss and improve the biodiversity of irreplaceable sites like Mackintosh Davidson Wood."
"So much remaining woodland has been fragmented, creating isolated and vulnerable plant and animal populations. This project demonstrates how we can reverse the trend", Gordon explained.
Gillian French, Biffaward Programme Manager, said "Biffaward is delighted to fund this project. We recognise the importance of conserving ancient woodland and enhancing biodiversity."
The Doomsday Book reveals that some two thirds of the parish was once woodland - part of the great Forest of Selwood which was largely cleared in the fourteenth century.
The village is recorded in 1235 as being "one of the townships answering to the forest Eyre of Penselwood". Vestiges of ancient woodland within Mackintosh Davidson Wood form natural links to local forest heritage.
