As part of an ongoing conservation project 16 Dartmoor ponies are settling into their new lives in Norfolk.
Ten of the ponies have joined a herd of 41 at Hockwold Heath and six have joined the 9 already at Cranwich Camp, where they will help to restore the grassland habitats at the two Breckland sites.
It brings the total number of Dartmoor ponies owned and managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) to 170 - thought to be the biggest collection helping to manage any landscape, outside of Devon.
Dartmoor ponies are particularly good for grazing heathland as they are hardy and can remain outside all year.
They are used to grazing rough grassland and coarse vegetation and help by reducing overgrown vegetation when grazing, so that more specialist heathland plants can thrive.
John Milton, head of nature reserves for NWT, said: “We have sixty-six ponies grazing various sites in Breckland including Weeting and Hockwold Heaths as well as Cranwich Camp.
“They are perfectly suited to grazing these sites which are similar to the environment they come from on Dartmoor.
“Ponies are a vital conservation management tool in these areas as they are well adapted to grazing sites with mixtures of rank grassland, wetland, gorse cover and where the public may walk their dogs.”
Dartmoor ponies are an endangered breed and NWT are helping to maintain the viability of the native pony by buying suitable animals that have been bred on Dartmoor to graze its reserves in the county.
The selection, handling, purchase and transport of the ponies was provided and organised by the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT).
Dru Butterfield of the DPHT said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to assist NWT by supplying good quality Dartmoor ponies for its conservation grazing projects and therefore supporting our Dartmoor farmers who breed them.
“Through initiatives like this we are meeting our aims to help ensure the long term future of the Dartmoor pony as one of our most treasured and important native breeds.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here