How horses are helping with forest conservation

By Lauren Beavis

Two hard-working Gypsy Cob horses are helping with conservation efforts - through traditional "horse logging."

Bill and Little Ron have been lending strength to conservation efforts in Coedwig Dyfi, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) near Ceinws, in Wales.

The Gypsy Cobs have been used for horse logging - a traditional forestry method that moves felled trees with minimal environmental impact.

Horse logging in sensitive areas minimizes soil compaction and reduces the risk of silt pollution in nearby streams.

Lauren Kirk, Biodiversity Restoration Officer for NRW, said: "It’s incredibly rewarding to see traditional methods like horse logging play a role in restoring our natural spaces. By reducing disturbance, we’re giving woodland plants and wildlife the best chance to thrive.

“This work helps to improve habitat connectivity.

"This means improving conditions between different habitats across landscapes and helps species of plants and animals to spread and grow.”

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) turned to horse logging as part of its work to improve biodiversity and habitat connectivity in the ecologically sensitive area.

NRW say Bill and Little Ron - guided by their owner and expert horse logger, Kevin Taylor - have demonstrated that this "time-honored technique" remains a "valuable tool in modern forestry and conservation."

Beech trees were selectively felled to support the spread of native oak trees, which have a lighter canopy.

Oak trees allow more sunlight to reach the forest floor, encouraging a greater variety of plant life to thrive.

The felling took place after an NRW officer saw that areas under oak trees supported a richer diversity of plants compared to the dense, shaded ground beneath beech trees.

This work is part of the Welsh Government-funded Nature Networks Program, which supports the management of ecological networks across Wales, including habitat restoration and woodland thinning.

NRW hopes to ensure that Welsh woodlands remain resilient for future generations by using sustainable forestry techniques.