Grazing Trials
Grazing trials have been conducted to determine the breeds of large herbivore best suited to grazing the types of fen within the Broads. So far, these have involved two different breeds of pony, each with their own distinctive grazing patterns.
The first breed to be trialled was the Konik pony, a primitive Polish breed that was being used with great success elsewhere in Europe, grazing similar wetland habitat. The 
Koniks are an extremely hardy breed, requiring little in the way of attention, and graze a great variety of vegetation types, including young scrub and bark.
The second herd we obtained were Welsh Mountain ponies, which had been grazing species-rich fen on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. These ponies are small and lightweight and so are highly suitable for grazing wetter sites. Both of these breeds have proved very successful in the Broads and are grazed on a number of sites by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and us. We have also provided advice to the RSPB and private landowners regarding the use of cattle for fen grazing.
