Ponies let loose on moors to munch down overgrowth

A herd of hardy Exmoor ponies has been released on moorland to help drive the restoration of natural habitats and boost bird numbers.

The endangered small horses have been let loose on 126 acres (51 hectares) of farmland in Horwich, Bolton, which is being restored to its natural state.

The scheme is being run by Environment Bank, a company which sells parcels of land to developers to offset the environmental impact of their construction projects.

An Environment Bank spokesman said the herd had been introduced to eat soft rush, a tough plant enjoyed by ponies for its "sweet green bite".

Exmoor ponies, mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086, have previously been used to graze land in conservation schemes across the UK.

At Horwich, it is hoped they will eat the soft rush which, according to the Environment Bank spokesman, has "overtaken much of the site".

Its pervasive growth is thought to have driven out waders like lapwing, curlew and redshank by holding back other flora.

"By reducing the extent of the soft rush, [the ponies will] allow other species to come through," the spokesman added.

It is hoped the ponies, which belong to local breeder and vet Michael Dewhurst, will create space for wildflowers and other plant species by grazing and trampling over the land.

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