Using horses to extract timber in this way provides a sensitive, low impact approach which minimises the disturbance to the woodland floor and paths, leaves no ruts and doesn’t damage other trees and stumps.
Heavy horses get to work at Bracketts Coppice
James Cartwright
A sensitive approach is vital when you are managing an ancient woodland such as the magical Bracketts Coppice in west Dorset. When it was decided that the time had come to create a sheltered and sunny glade within the woodland to increase biodiversity, there was no question of driving heavy machinery through the nature reserve which is home to some of Dorset’s rarest and most iconic species. Fortunately, there is another way – using a pair of experienced, well trained heavy horses mixed with modern horse-drawn forestry equipment.
Our thanks go to the experts from Dorset Horse Logging and Green Man Conservation Services who expertly planned and carried out the work with the beautiful Comtois horses as part of our woodland management programme. The new glade will provide a crucial habitat and food for the variety of rare inhabitants of Bracketts Coppice, protecting this amazing nature reserve for the future.