Conservation Grazing at Fontburn

To help control invasive bracken and prevent succession to scrub or woodland, conservation grazing with exmoor ponies has been introduced at Fontburn.  This former water treatment works sludge disposal site is very species-rich, but is becoming taken over by scrub.

Grazing is a sensitive and gentle form of management.  It will remove the thatch around the margins of the lagoons, allowing species underneath to grow such as sneezewort, lesser spearwort, fen bedstraw and meadowsweet.

A number of important bird species depend upon the sludge lagoons for breeding and feeding such as water rail, snipe, redstart, blackcap, linnet, lesser redpoll, reed bunting and sedge warbler.  These will benefit from the mosaic of vegetation that the grazing will create.

Lead partner

Northumbrian Water

Other partners

Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Moorland Mousie Trust

Action plans that the project helps to deliver

Fen, Marsh and Swamp

Start date

Sep 2007

End date

Until further notice

Funded by

Northumbrian Water

Who to contact for further information

Kelly Hollings
kelly.hollings@nwl.co.uk
01434 250 320