The nibblers are off, or most of them anyway. Since early July 40 Shetland sheep of the Scottish Wildlife Trust have been helping with our scrub control by grazing an 8 ha area of Flanders. They have done an excellent job, setting to their task with dedication and over the 3 month period have nibbled off a lot of birch. But one years grazing isn't enough to kill all the birch so this is something that needs to be done every year. And what are the benefits ? Well in keeping the vegetation down and the birch under control it allows the sphagnum to develop and a good sphagnum carpet keeps the Moss wet.
But it isn't as simple of just pushing the sheep out into the field and leaving them to get on with it. The sheep are regularly checked to make sure they are fit and healthy, by the SWT shepherd Laura but also by SNH staff and volunteers Ann and Roy. Counting 40 sheep might sound easy as well but these are small sheep that like nothing better that to hide in bushes and behind trees or sometimes go through fences just for the hell of it. So we are really grateful for Roy and Ann for all their time put in staggering round the moss, trying to find the right number of sheep and check they are still upright (the sheep not Roy or Ann). It is only with their effort that the grazing has been possible. So if anyone else is out there and fancies helping out with sheep counting contact me and we could use your help next year.
And maybe next year the Scottish Wildlife Trust flock might have some Flanders Moss lamb to sell and then you could eat for bog conservation, that is my favourites way of habitat management.
