Wood pasture is a historical European land management system in which open woodland provided shelter and forage for grazing animals, particularly sheep and cattle, as well as woodland products such as timber for construction and fuel, coppiced stems for wattle and charcoal making and pollarded poles. Evidence of old wood pasture management systems can be detected in many of the ancient woodlands of Scotland, such as Rassal Ashwood in Ross-shire, and at Glen Finglas in the Trossachs. The Dalkeith Old Wood, belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch, where cattle still graze beneath ancient oak trees to this day is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) [1]
Natural England's Environmental Stewardship scheme, defines Wood Pasture in its Farm Environmental Plan booklet, as a structure of open grown or high forested trees, in a matrix of grazed grassland, heathland and/or woodland floras.
References
- ^ R. Stiven and K. Holl (2004) Wood pasture. Scottish Natural Heritage, ISBN 1 85397 386 6
See also
 |
This agriculture article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
