A herd of Exmoor ponies has been introduced by Calderdale Council and the National Trust at Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve, near Brighouse, where they will remain until the end of winter as part of an innovative conservation project aimed at restoring vital grasslands.
Exmoor ponies play a crucial role in kick-starting natural processes by sustainably grazing the grasslands, maintaining areas of pasture and creating disturbance to the habitat. Historically, large wild herbivores would have performed this function, but their long absence from the landscape has left a gap in natural grassland management.
By reintroducing conservation grazing to Cromwell Bottom, the Exmoor ponies serve as a natural substitute for their wild ancestors, helping to maintain and enhance these important grassland habitats.
Grassland restoration through conservation grazing benefits a wide range of wildlife and plant life, including butterflies, moths, birds, mammals and fungi, while also improving soil health and boosting natural carbon storage.
You can get involved by signing up to be a volunteer pony watcher – email robin.dalton@calderdale.gov.uk
More information about the action Calderdale are taking to restore grasslands and other habitats is available in Calderdale’s recently-published Ecological Emergency Action Plan.