We are in the midst of a nature crisis. A quarter of Britain’s native mammals and nearly half of bird species are at risk of extinction. Our precious wildlife is in decline and urgent action is needed. We must act now to create a wilder future.

Conservation grazing helps to maintain our reserves by returning to more traditional grazing practices for the benefit of wildlife. Alternative forms of management, such as mowing, are expensive and worse for the environment. Grazing is natural and often the most effective – and cost-effective – way to manage these crucial habitats.

Our approach reflects low-intensity farming practices and mimics the impact that herds of wild, roaming large herbivores would have had on landscapes of the past.

Deploying livestock as ecosystem engineers is hugely beneficial for our nature reserves and the local wildlife that so dearly depends on these special places. 

Unlike machines, livestock don’t create a uniform and monotonous habitat. Through their selective feeding and foraging, grazing animals enable a patchwork of microhabitats that supports a wide range of flora and fauna. From fungi to plants, insects to reptiles, and birds to mammals. 

In 2013, with the support of our members, we were able to purchase our first farm at College Copse near Hook and, in 2017, we expanded our operation with the purchase of Hockley Farm near Winchester. Today, these are vital hubs for managing our animals which graze our chalk grassland, heathland, wood pasture and wetland nature, helping to keep them in the best possible condition for wildlife to thrive. 

With the help of our amazing grazing animals, we have transformed reserves like Hockley Meadows where a small herd of native British whites are creating areas of open water meadow and providing an ideal habitat for the rare southern damselfly, an endangered species that only exists in several isolated pockets of the UK. 

But we can’t stop there. Over the next two years, we want to increase the number of native cattle and ponies in our herd, and improve our techniques and infrastructure to support the expansion of our grazing and reserves teams. 

This incredibly important work costs the Trust around £250,000 every year. That is expected to increase by around £50,000 this year – so we are asking for your support. A donation today will help ensure our nature reserves remain a haven for precious local wildlife. 

And that is why we need your help!   

By making a gift to today, you can help us continue grazing our precious nature reserves across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and ensure these special places continue to thrive.