Graze The Moor
An innovative grazing project based on Molland Moor (681ha) on the southern edge of Exmoor National Park. It ran from April 2014 until March 2025 and followed a 2-year case study that took place 2012-2014.
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The Steering group consisted of representatives of Natural England, ENPA, The Heather Trust, Local Ecologists, Agricultural Economists and Farmers.
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The Throckmorton Family had become concerned about the loss of heather on the moor, and the increase in molinia, gorse and bracken; a problem exacerbated by sever and repeated heather beetle attacks and the restriction of grazing during the early 1990's.​
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The project set out to determine the optimum grazing levels and stocking diary. This was enabled by Natural England who allowed a greater number of cattle to be kept on the moor and during the winter.
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Mike Pearce of Natural England and David Boyce an Ecologist monitored the vegetation and wildlife on the Moor.
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Other methods of Moorland management including swaling, cutting molinia, gorse cutting and bracken bruising were also trialled.
Professor Janet Dwyer of CCRI assessed the importance of the moorland grazing to the farm business of Luckyworthy Farm. The findings are broadly that it is possible to regenerate a Heather Moorland by active management especially the use of swaling, cutting and importantly grazing. A management plan needs to be site specific and the importance SSSI status needs more not less hands on actions.
The Estate would like to thank Steve and Richard Langdon of Luckyworthy Farm, Mike Pearce of Natural England, Rob Wilson North, Alex Farris of Exmoor National Park Authority, Professor Janet Dwyer, Theo Lenormand of CCRI, David Boyce (Ecologist), Robin Milton (Farmer and Policy Advisor), Dr Elizabeth Bradshaw (Ecologist) and Professor Roy Brown (Entomologist).