Farm animals (as well as wildlife) have lived and grazed at Pertwood for thousands of years, and we are keen that our horses, cattle and sheep continue to play a vital role in the success of our organic farm. They help to preserve a traditional way of life as well as delivering environmental benefits.
Our Shire's - Charlie and Harry and Alfie are central to life on the farm. Shires are the largest breed of horse and a native rare breed. Cared for by Barry, our horseman - we have working shires whose skills include ploughing, hay making as well as being extremely strong 'cart horses'.
Here is Barry training a young Harry. By pulling a weight such as a tyre he is quickly becoming accustomed to his harness and collar.
The farm has a lot of herb-rich grassland on free-draining, low fertility chalk soil which is not uncommon in Wiltshire. However this habitat is a priority for conservation as it is threatened. Nationally, up to 80 percent has been lost since World War II, mainly as a result of agricultural intensification. Pertwood was mainly a sheep farm until grain was needed to feed the country during the War and large areas were ploughed up. Still today, one third of the farm remains as permanent pasture. Sheep are grazed in rotation with cattle, and often together to give a varied sward (the grassy surface of land). Downland is a habitat that actually depends on farm livestock for its existence. It is not a climax community, which is the community of plants and animals that would result if an area were left without management.
Cattle (in our case Aberdeen Angus and Hereford) graze to a more varied sward structure than sheep which benefits the diversity of plants, invertebrates and birds. Mature cattle are suitable for grazing fibrous herbage of low digestibility, trampling bracken and controlling scrub. Where cattle 'tread' leaves patches of bare soil new plants can establish. Careful management means that damage to the soil and historic features is avoided.
