Reintroduction of grazing in New Milton hailed a success

Ponies and cattle are grazing two beauty spots in the New Forest for the first in 50 years in a scheme that will save taxpayers £3,000 a year.

They are munching their way through huge amounts of vegetation at Ballard Water Meadow in New Milton and nearby Barton Common.

Animals roaming the landscape are a familiar site in the Forest but the urban fringes of the district have not been grazed in decades.

Now New Milton Town Council has turned the clock back 50 years in an eco-friendly project being hailed as a “win-win” situation.

Councillor Geoffrey Blunden, chairman of the amenities committee, said: “Barton Common and Ballard Water Meadow are beautiful open spaces that have both been designated Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. “About four years ago we started looking at ways of protecting and enhancing the two sites.

“With the support of Natural England and the New Forest Land Advice Service the town council has been able to reintroduce grazing stock to both sites, which will help return them to their former glory.”

The six ponies at Barton Common are owned by Simon and Karen Crouch and their two daughters, Georgie and Jess. The seven Dexter cattle at Ballard Water Meadow, one of which has just had a calf, belong to farmers Richard and Sarah Harvey.

Cllr Blunden said the scheme would prevent the council having to cut the grass, saving the authority thousands of pounds a year.

He added: “Dexter cattle are quite docile and work well with people. They’re doing a brilliant job – the meadow is looking really nice.”

Community wildlife officer Angela Peters said: “It’s wonderful to see animals grazing these two areas again after many years.

“The ponies at Barton Common will help keep scrub and grass under control. As a result a more diverse habitat will develop, leading to a greater variety of plants, hoverflies and dragonflies. At Ballard Water Meadow the cattle are already making an impression by helping to control the coarser grasses.”