Grasslands
Much of the grassland on Trust nature reserves is wet and boggy, such as the culm at Greena Moor and the wet meadows at Redlake Cottage Meadows, where the rare heath lobelia can be found.
What these sites have in common is the need for grazing and the dominance of scrub if this grazing is neglected. Much effort has been put into making reserves suitable for grazing with the installation of fencing and water supplies.
Grazing is considered the most sustainable form of management for these sites as cutting tends to be very labour intensive and is often ongoing. With suitable stock at the right time of year, scrub encroachment is checked and the grassland can develop a structure that benefits birds, mammals, invertebrates and a varied flora. Local grazing is always sought, but where this is not possible the Trust has its own flock of Hebridean sheep and works closely with the owners of a large herd of Exmoor ponies.
