Ancient Woodland Restoration Training Video - Little Doward

Little Doward was bought by the Woodland Trust in 1991 and has been under restoration ever since.
Although most of the woodland has moved to a secure condition, meaning it’s no longer deteriorating and has few negative impacts, there are still some stands of non-native conifer, where we need to start gradually thinning to promote regeneration of native canopy species.

[@mariejenkins3172]

Keep up the good work

[@bt3-skyreaper299]

Using cattle to manage vegetation mosaics? what breeds? I hope there are plans to use wild species (e.g., bison)

[@WildwoodTV]

I don't understand how cattle are better than deer

[@pineapplenoob]

Cattle graze and pull at clumps of vegetation, varying the soil Scape and reducing dominance of grass. Deer browse, nibbling at the ends of twigs and Herby plants, the main aim is to form variety in the landscape and reduce dominance of one species (intermediate disturbance hypothesis)

[@WildwoodTV]

thanks @@pineapplenoob tbh Deer pull up grass clumps & everything else - maybe because they can't roam as they should, & as a farmer's daughter I know cattle will graze ALL undergrowth - so no difference IMHO, yet time will tell. 👍 However deer belong in ancient woodland, lots of treadmarks ruffling up the soil, lots of nibbles on the holly, they do a good job! So why think cattle are better? Cattle in a wood vs indigenous Deer in a wood? Leave nature to decide...