Castle Bottom Lookers

Castle Bottom Lookers

Sunday 25 March 2012

13 Highlands join the New Forest Ponies on Castle Bottom...

We have a large herd to look out for this year - 13 Highlands joined the New Forest Ponies on Castle Bottom yesterday, including a whole family: mother, father brothers/sisters and two young calves. There were some initial teething problems, as the whole group decided to explore the boggy mire as soon as they stepped out of the trailer, resulting in 3 cows needing to be rescued. Hopefully, they will have now learned the dangers, although they will be closely monitored during the coming weeks.
I will be holding a training sessions to introduce this years Volunteer Lookers to the cattle this coming Sunday morning (1st April), time TBC, if you think you can make it please let me know!
Photos to follow,  all the best,
Ranger Natalie

Sunday 18 March 2012

Introducing Castle Bottom's newest residents, Jack and Jill...

Meet Jack and Jill, the two New Forest Ponies that will spend the rest of the Spring, Summer and Autumn on Castle Bottom NNR. After meeting them for the first time on-site today, it is clear that Jack is the dominant personality, with a curious nature, whereas Jill seems to be quite shy. 
Thanks to those of you that have already emailed to express interest in volunteering as Lookers again this year.  The ponies will soon be joined by 12 Highlands, as soon as we have a date fixed for them to be brought onto site, I will arrange a training session to introduce you all!

All the best,
Ranger Natalie

Thursday 8 March 2012

Cattle due to return later this month!

Now that the winter works are now finished, and Spring is well on its way, it’s almost time for the cattle to move back onto Castle Bottom. This year we will be welcoming 8-10 Highland Cows onto the site, along with a couple of New Forest ponies. During the 8 months or so that the animals are on the Reserve, the grazing herd help to produce a mosaic of micro-habitats that are essential for maintaining the richness and diversity of the heathland on Castle Bottom. Here are a few benefits of having cattle on the site:
  • Grazing by cattle produces the uneven age structure of heather which is required to support the specialist heathland birds, reptiles and butterflies
  • Grazing helps to keep down scrub and suppress the spread of invasive species
  • The broad hooves break up plant litter, helping to maintain the open, low nutrient status of heathlands (this could also result in some extension of wet areas necessary for plants like sundews)
  • The dung produced will support a number of invertebrates (a welcome food source for birds and reptiles!) as well as fungi
Many thanks to those of you who have already contacted me to say that you would like to volunteer with us again this year. As soon we have a fixed date for the cattle to return to Castle Bottom, we will be arranging an on-site training session for everyone who has expressed interest in becoming a Volunteer Cattle Looker. If you are interested in helping out this year or would like any further information, please contact us on 01252 870425 or email northern.sites@hants.gov.uk.
Ranger Natalie