GAP News Archive
GAP NEWS 43
Winter 2008/2009
A short newsletter brought to you by the interim arrangements between the Grazing Animals Project and the Grazing Advice Partnership; looking forward to building on past achievements with a whole new level of partnership working.
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GAP News 42
Summer 2008
A bumper edition as the last newsletter from the current GAP partnership. Many interesting articles, including a report of the GAP study tour to Poland in June.
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GAP News 41
It is Spring and we have lots of new life in this issue. Read about close shepherding, shepherds on stilts, and innovative marketing for wool. See how conservation grazing is benefiting airborne biodiversity in the form of marsh fritillary butterfly, little egrets and the corn bunting. We hear experiences of grazing apprenticeship, and find out about the history of the landscape developing in parallel with breeds of grazing animals.
The serious topic of disease is on our minds and there are several useful articles on Bluetongue, including Defra guidelines, a Dutch shepherd’s experience of his flock surviving the disease, and extracts from Nibblers conversations.
Several interesting events past and forthcoming are reported on and there is news of a developing local grazing scheme in Wales with PONT, and gathering support for conservation grazing in Scotland. Finally, on a lighter note, this issue has an artistic flavour, illustrating just how inspiring grazing animals can be.
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GAP News 40
Happy New Year!
Grazing on commons is often a challenge. In this edition we have collated a series of articles that address some of the issues that frequently arise. Topics covered range from the 2006 Commons Act to the practicalities of how to get cattle grids or fencing installed, from ways of engaging with local commoners to urban grazing and commons as open spaces. Also included is a write-up of the PONT commons conference. In addition we have the usual news from GAP and reports from the GAP local grazing scheme co-ordinators, plus events, adverts and news snippets.
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GAP NEWS 39
Following on from our conference in Stirling in June, we have a Scottish flavour this quarter, with a report from the 5th FACT GAP conference “Tools & Techniques for Pastoralism and Wildlands”, a Scottish perspective on the challenges facing conservation grazing, and lessons learned from five years in the life of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Flying Flock.
Ever worried what the “sustainable” bit in the definition of local grazing schemes really means? Bill Grayson keeps us on our toes with a thoughtful analysis of the wider environmental implications.
Also, news of an innovative grazing co-operative in the north-east, disease updates, and report from the coastal heaths of Norway including a profile of the old Norse heritage race of sheep, now making a come-back thanks to branding and landscape conservation
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GAP NEWS 38
Summer 2007
An edition with a focus on GAP - find out about our new website, a day in the life of an LGS co-ordinator, a vision for Local Grazing Schemes and news from the GAP Office. Other articles include reserach on grazing woodlands for moths, a comparison of traditional and modern beef reared on semi-natural and improved swards and mating behaviour in semi-feral ponies. Also, the Eriskay Pony, Luneberg Heide, the Shropshire LGS, the 2007 HEATH conference, Directional Virutal fencing, plusTed Green on gatecrashing the garden party or what's going on in the countryside.
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GAP NEWS 37
Spring 2007
Inside we take a look at moving livestock from the days of droving to modern day welfare transportation regulations and pre-movement bTB testing. PONT's Charles Morgan challenges our dependence on oil in conservation livestock management, and we also feature articles on native cattle and meat prodiction, the Grazing Links initiative from Devon Wildlife Trust, the Eating Biodiversity experiments, and hefting in Northumberland. We have reports from GAP visiting to Lindisfarne and Chillingham, and Richard Samll takes a look at research on grazing Molinia, while Jim Swanson takes us on a tour of shepherded heathlands in Holland.
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GAP NEWS 36
Winter 2006 - 2007
This issue features articles on the seaweed-eating, bracken-bashing pigs of the Dunlossit estate on Islay by Chloe Randall, conservation grazing in the Cambridgshire Fens at Ouse Washes and Wicken Fen, conservation grazing with Exmoor ponies at Trellech, a farmers perspective on overwintering cattle in Wales. There are also features on Bracken Control by Dr Rob Marr of the International Bracken Group, the endangered Bilberry Goats of Waterford, the UK Sand Dune and Shingle Network and Ecolots and Contak – two useful websites. There is also all the usual sections and news on Local Grazing Schemes around the UK including the Parish Grasslands Project in St Briavels, the Chilterns Commons Network, Devon Wildlife Trust Grazing Links to name but a few.
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GAP NEWS 35
Autumn 2006
Contains articles on PONT and conservation grazing in Wales, Frans Vera discusses the grazing system at the Oostvaardersplassen reserve in Holland, grazing with Belted Galloways in the Lancashire fells at Croasdale, conservation grazing at three Defence Estates sites across the UK, an introduction to the Old Surrey Downs Project, historic grazing with Geese in Co Durham, Conservation grazing and VAT, Aurox and Konik Ponies in Latvia, the landscape-scale SCaMP project in the Pennines and the Penhein scheme in Wales. Plus all the regular features and reports.
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GAP NEWS 34
Summer 2006
ANIMAL WELFARE AND EXTENSIVE GRAZING
Inside this issue we focus on the debate surrounding Animal Welfare in extensive grazing systems, with particular reference to the grazing systems at the Oostvaardersplassen and other Dutch nature reserves. There are also articles on rewilding and pastoralism by Rob Coleman and Keith Kirby. Jim Swanson offers some advice on how to meet our obligations for welfare under the current legal framework in the UK. There is also an update on the Husbandry Handbook by Alison Hiles. Also featured are articles on the Coversands Project in historic Lincolnshire, Toggenburg Goats, grazing wet grassland for the historic environment and all the usual features and news.
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GAP News 33
Spring 2006
WOODLAND GRAZING SPECIAL ISSUE
Inside this issue we feature articles on the Pigs in Woodlands project, there is a report from the GAP woodland grazing workshop held at the Neroche Project in Somerset and we take a look at Silvopastoralism in the UK. There are articles on the West Highland Woodland and Forest Research projects in Scotland, excerpts from the Veteran Tree Management Handbook and much more....
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GAP NEWS 32
Winter 2005
This edition of GAP News reflects some of the diversity of grazing projects and schemes that are underway, with information on using Soay sheep to manage bracken in Shropshire, cattle to promote regeneration in Scottish pine woods and Dartmoor ponies to maintain mires in Norfolk. We also have news from PONT in Wales, and from LGSs scattered throughout England, plus events and workshops. Issues explored include using leaf fodder from wooded meadows, when to use goats in conservation grazing, changes to OTMS and sheep movement requirements, and solar fencing energizers. We also have reports from recent branding, commons and wildlands conferences.
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GAP News 31
Autumn 2005
ABBATOIRS AND MEAT PRODUCTION
This special edition of GAP News is dedicated to exploring the issues related to small abattoirs in the light of recent legislative changes. These issues include background to the supply chain, new legislation, an update on the beef sector, meat quality and the role of EBLEX in a series of five articles that were first presented as talks to the GAP Advisory Council in July. This issue also contains articles on nutrient input and output on Luneberg heathland in Germany, local grazing schemes around the UK and horse pasture management in the High Weald.
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GAP NEWS 30
Summer 2005
This issue takes countryside conservation from theory to practice with articles on pastoral shepherding in Germany & the Netherlands, a further look at ‘naturalistic grazing’, and Frans Vera’s thinking in the context of British woodlands.
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GAP NEWS 29
Spring 2005
Looks at the protection of common land, biosecurity at livestock markets, a report on the Hampshire & Isle Of Wight Wildlife Trusts hairy (but not scary) cattle and news from Local Grazing Schemes around the country.
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GAP NEWS 28
Winter 2004
This newsletter contains articles on the Salisbury Plain grazing meeting and the Salisbury Plain herdsmen, on managing calcareous grassland and on Mynydd Y Gwair (the Hay Mountain). Plus all the usual LGS news and regular features.
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GAP NEWS 27
Autumn 2004
This issue includes articles on Cryptosporidium and the threat to grazing, the Wild Ennerdale Project in the Lake District and the pitfalls & pratfalls of livestock management. Plus all the regular news and features.
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GAP NEWS 26
Summer 2004
This issue contains articles on the West Highland Woodland Grazing Project by Lucy Sumsion (Argyll FWAG) and on the Parish Grasslands Project in St Briavels. There is also a look at the wide range of agri-enviroment schemes around by Bill Grayson, plus all the regular features and news.
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GAP NEWS 25
Spring 2004
LOCAL GRAZING SCHEMES AND HOW THEY HELP TO DELIVER FAVOURABLE CONDITION SSSI'S
A special issue looking at how Local Grazing Schemes contribute towards securing favourable condiditon for SSSI's. Also inlcudes - Lincoln Red's from field to fork, native and non-native breeds, ragwort
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GAP NEWS 24
Winter 2003
.Contains a report from former GAP co-ordinator Claire Weaver on a Eurosite workshop in Hungary, grazing the Suffolk coast, conservation grazing research at IGER North Wyke. Plus all the regular features and news.
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GAP NEWS 23
Autumn 2003
CAP REFORM
An in-depth look at changes to the Common Agricultural Policy and the repercussions of these legislative changes for livestock farmers and conservation grazing schemes in the UK. There are also articles on introducing White Park cattle to Savernake Forest by Lawrence Alderson, the British Sheep Dairying Association, and there is a report on a GAP field meeting at Epping Forest
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