Our rare wildflower meadows and chalk grasslands are among the richest habitats in the UK, supporting orchids, butterflies, pollinators, birds and countless other species. These landscapes have been shaped over centuries by grazing animals, and many of the plants and wildlife found there today depend on this natural process to survive.
Conservation Grazing? Nature's Way of Caring for Grasslands
When you think of wildlife conservation, grazing animals may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet cattle and sheep play a vital role in helping some of Wiltshire's most precious habitats thrive.
Pyramidal orchids at Coombe Bissett Down, Wiltshire. Credit: Ashley White.
Working with Nature
Conservation grazing uses livestock to recreate the natural processes that once shaped our landscapes. Through grazing, browsing and moving across the land, animals create a varied mosaic of habitats that support a wide range of wildlife.
Unlike mowing or mechanical management, grazing animals work selectively. They choose different plants and graze different areas at different times, creating patches of short and long grass, areas of scrub and bare ground. This variety is exactly what many species need to flourish.
Why Cattle Matter
Cattle are often described as nature's "bramble bulldozers". By grazing tougher vegetation and opening up dense scrub, they allow sunlight to reach the ground, giving wildflowers and less competitive plants space to grow.
As they move around, cattle also help spread seeds in their fur, hooves and digestive systems. Their weight creates small patches of disturbed ground where wildflower seeds can germinate, while areas around dung pats provide valuable habitat for insects, which in turn support birds and bats.
The Role of Sheep
Sheep are particularly useful on steep slopes and difficult-to-access grasslands. Their grazing helps maintain species-rich grassland, encourages dense root growth and can help reduce soil erosion.
Sheep at Coombe Bissett Down
Their wool can provide nesting material for birds such as the Yellow-Wagtail, while the invertebrates that live in sheep dung become an important food source for many species.
Supporting Wildlife across Wiltshire
Conservation grazing is one of the most effective ways we can restore and maintain wildlife-rich grasslands. It allows us to work with natural processes while creating healthier habitats for wildlife and more resilient landscapes for the future.
©Margaret Holland
Thanks to support from the Landfill Communities Fund, we have secured significant funding to support our conservation grazing programme. However, to unlock the full grant, we must first raise a small but essential Contributing Third Party (CTP) payment.
Every £1 donated unlocks around £10 of funding for wildlife and habitat restoration.
A gift of:
- £10 can unlock £100
- £25 can unlock £250
- £50 can unlock £500
- £100 can unlock £1,000
CTP donations are paid to the landfill operator and as these donations do not directly fund the charitable project, they are not eligible for Gift Aid.
By contributing to the CTP, you'll help unlock vital funding that will support livestock welfare, grazing infrastructure, essential equipment and the ongoing protection of Wiltshire's rare meadows and chalk grasslands.
Together, we can ensure these special places continue to thrive for wildlife and people for generations to come.
Devil's-bit Scabious wildflowers at Distillery Meadows, part of Ravensroost Wood Nature Reserve © Emma Garry, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust