Horse Grazing Management
Mend the Gap is supporting two projects to improve grassland for wildlife under horse grazing management.
Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South East (FWAGSE) will run a workshop for horse owners.
Equine land managers in the Mend the Gap area are custodians of vulnerable, priority habitats such as floodplain meadows and chalk grassland that require specific management to be in good condition. This project will offer advice to equine land managers and horse owners, with the aim to improve grassland habitat for wildlife.
Valley Meadow in Streatley will trial an Equicentric grazing system as a means to manage chalk grassland habitat for wildlife.
Equicentric grazing places horse welfare at the forefront, whilst also considering the best use of the land.
Equine Land Management Workshop
A workshop for approximately 20 attendees will be held in the summer of 2026 to establish a dialogue in managing land with horses. Speakers will share knowledge on managing paddocks for soil, grass and horse health, wildlife and the impact of horse medication, and conservation grazing techniques. FWAG will also be strengthening their relationships with the existing local farmer cluster and water catchment partnerships in the area.
Valley Meadow Equicentric Grazing
This trial starting in 2026 will divide the meadow into separate areas for rotational grazing to maintain the grass sward to a height of approximately 3 inches. A compartment will be left un-grazed annually to maintain the seed bank diversity. The field margin will only be grazed in the autumn and winter months to enhance the wildflower diversity. The landowners will be sharing the learning from this project with others in the area.
Image: Richard Croft cc-by-sa 2.0