The Forest of Dean is one of the most important areas for wildlife in the UK, supporting habitats and species of national and European significance. This film describes the conservation grazing project taking place at Woorgreens Nature Reserve, within the Forest of Dean.
We hear from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry England, who explain how they have created a heathland area, evolved from conservation grazing and creating and linking an open habitat over a large area within the Forest landscape. The expanded habitat also sits within a wider mosaic of scrub, wetland, woodland and copse. The reserve is grazed by livestock as part of a carefully managed conservation grazing project and Forestry England’s ‘Our Shared Forest’ Land Management Plan.
This work is successfully improving habitats and living conditions for rare birds, reptiles, butterflies, newts and wildflowers.
The Conservation Grazing project is part of the Foresters' Forest National Lottery Heritage Funded Landscape Partnership Programme; to raise awareness and participation in the built, natural and cultural heritage within the Forest of Dean, 2017-2022.