Wednesday, November 17, 2021
grazing on ashdown forest
We know that there was far more grazing on the land in the past by all sorts of domestic and wild animals, including man. Grazing in a general sense of eating, consuming and using.
For example, rabbits, deer, horses, pigs, sheep, and cows.
But it is difficult to judge which were important for which plants.
There were also natural events such as forest fires.
The forest is at present considered to be under grazed. Which seems a bit strange as we are told that the deer are over- populated and underfed, with the woodland understory largely gone.
Could we get some historical data, about grazing, species, populations, etc from an analysis of the soil?
The forest is not an easy place to overwinter for many animals, and historical records show the movement of animals on and off the forest. Particularly pigs and sheep.
There will also be some migration locally of wild species such as deer.
Yet another tactic is to have highr high breeding rate when the food supply is good. For instance the rabbit population.
Is it possible that rabbits were a major factor in mintaining the open heathland. Could the undergrazing be the loss of the rabbit poulation through myxamatosis and haemoragic b virus's?
I am thinking dna and core samples
Thoughts, leads, offers
Martin
