This coming winter we will be grazing many of our reserves with sheep, cattle and ponies, including rare breeds such as Exmoor ponies, Welsh mountain ponies, Highlands, Belted Galloways and Riggit Galloways cattle, Hebridean sheep, Balwen sheep, Herdwick sheep, amongst others.

Livestock are a vital part of nature reserve management. They recreate naturally what we would have to do with machines otherwise. They remove the thick sward of grass, removing nutrients which allows the rare and delicate herbs to grow, for which our reserves are so important.

If you would like to find out more information, or offer help with the livestock checking, please email volunteering@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk with your name and where you are located in the county.