The DPHT leases 82ha of moorland from the Forestry Commission at Bellever, home to some of the best heather heathland on Dartmoor and has an abundant supply of scheduled monuments. The Trust has a 10 year Higher Level Stewardship agreement including a Native Breeds at Risk Supplement. The Trust runs a herd of 26 Dartmoor ponies on the site; all owned by local farmers. Ponies graze the site whilst they mature to a more saleable age at approximately 4yrs old. During the maturing process they graze the area; browsing for up to eighteen hours a day and trampling the rank grasses creating room and light for more sensitive plants to establish.

The moorland area at Bellever sits within a 1,000 acre holding, giving the herd a huge acreage to cover. When taking into account the additional area for the ponies to roam; the stocking density lowers to a level where a herd of 26 ponies struggle to keep up with an increase in annual growth, due to the increasingly wet summers which make ideal growing conditions for grass. In addition to pony grazing the site requires further management to keep on top of the Sikla Spruce - Christmas Trees which do not form part of the pony’s diet. Human intervention is required to remove the saplings and trees which have seeded on the open moorland. The idea of building a project to involve people and ponies becomes even more important following meetings with Dartmoor National Park Archaeologists to discuss how we can ensure the scheduled monuments are seen and not hidden under a duvet of thick tussocky grass.

Natural England have just given funding approval for a one off grant, which will pay for equipment required to carry this project out over the next ten years. The grant will enable us to create a multi faceted project using ponies to motivate and inspire local communities to get involved in constructive destruction! From February 2010 we plan to run a series of volunteer events encouraging families and local groups to help us with Christmas tree removal and molinia raking from around hut circles and ancient pounds.

The DPHT will provide volunteers a highly unusual outdoor experience.  As the groups work they will learn about the archaeology on the site, the history of the pony and learn how to work a pair of Dartmoor ponies pulling trees of the site and pulling a chain harrow to remove the molinia. When volunteers are taking turns in working with the ponies the group will cut, dig or pull the Christmas tree saplings. In December all volunteers will be encouraged to take a free tree home for Christmas. As we enter each New Year we will be back on site raking the molinia with hand rakes and taking turns in chain harrowing with the pony team. All volunteers will be provided a locally sourced lunch, outdoor clothing and health and safety training. It will be a perfect opportunity for participants to get fit, learn about Dartmoor, the archaeology, flora and fauna whilst carrying out important work to manage this very special site. But most important for the DPHT is having an environmentally friendly project using a green alternative to a quad bike or tractor, the ponies are more than capable of the workload required and will be much kinder to the sensitive site, avoiding poaching and wheel tracks in soft muddy areas, reducing the risk of erosion. The Dartmoor Pony has always been part of a working environment, from pack animal to a child riding pony, here we have the opportunity to use the pony as a part of our future heritage whilst we look back at its past, the Dartmoor pony is going back to work on Dartmoor!

Project partners:

Natural England

Forestry Commission

Dartmoor National Park Authority Archaeology, Ranger and Education service

CNP – Mosaic Project

Local Schools

Devon County Council Outdoor Learning Dept

BTCV

DPHT Volunteers, families and friends

For further details please contact Dru Butterfield  - dru@dpht.co.uk or phone 01626 355314