I live near to Woodbury Common which is part of the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths – they are largely owned by the Clinton Devon Estate but are managed by a charity they have set up called The Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust. The area involved is huge – approaching 3500 acres – most is designated as a Special Area of Conservation.
The Conservation Trust have recently fenced Woodbury Common so that a conservation grazing project can begin. A week or so ago a herd of Dartmoor ponies arrived to start the job and they will soon be joined by some cattle.
A Dartmoor pony carrying out its conservation duties
A couple more
Sign informing visitors of the work
Great colours on the commons – later in the year the purple of the heather will add to the picture
Close up of European Gorse
The nests of red spider mites (the red dots are the mites!) are common on some of the gorse
Where are they now?
Not sure – I was up there a couple of weeks ago and there was plenty of fresh horse dung around but I didnt see any ponies – but it is a bit site ….