Meet the Graziers - Kate Hawes and the Talisker Highland Ponies

At Woodwalton Fen, not all conservation work is undertaken by the hardworking Natural England staff and their volunteers. There’s also a team of beautiful Highland ponies taking up the reins.

A native breed, these equines play an important role in habitat maintenance and management in our local National Nature Reserves.

Woodwalton Fen is used to store floodwater at times of high flow in the Middle Level System. This is often nutrient-rich, having run-off from surrounding agricultural areas. Unfortunately, over-fertilisation promotes the growth of persistent perennial plants which quickly outcompete rarer and more delicate wildflowers and wetland specialist species. As a native breed, Highland ponies are happy eating less palatable vegetation like thistle, reed and rush. This helps suppress the vigour of growth and benefits botanical diversity.

The structural diversity ponies create when grazing helps maintain habitats for a diverse range of species. Kate Hawes, owner of Talisker Highland Ponies, explains:

“Ponies are selective grazers, meaning they leave some patches long and undisturbed amongst their preferred forage. This is important as medium to tall vegetation tends to support more invertebrate life. They’re lighter on their feet than herds of cows too, so well suited to the soft peatland ground here. Being fewer in number than the cows, they can also help out on the smaller fields. The bare ground they do create with their hooves can encourage seeds to germinate or other wildlife to make homes there.

"Because ponies graze differently to cows, it results in a different vegetation structure. This complements the cattle grazing in other areas. Together they're producing habitats suitable for different ranges of species across the wider reserve.

“We were delighted to be asked to bring ponies into Woodwalton Fen”, says Kate, “and now they’re working across Holme Fen and Monks Wood nature reserves too. They’re really living in paradise!”

Three highland ponies in green field at Woodwalton Fen

So, who’s on this lean, mean, efficient grazing machine team?

A grey pony walks towards camera in a green field with blue sky and white clouds above

Meg (Talisker Hidden Jem)

Age: 5

Dislikes: Meg is a bit of a diva! She dislikes puddles immensely and is very particular about everything in her life. She will happily and dramatically make it known if she is unhappy with something.

More about Meg: Meg was a surprise foal. Her mum was scanned not pregnant and did not show any signs that she was pregnant or about to foal. I had waited 9 years for a filly foal from Meg’s mum and so it was a very pleasant surprise to find Meg in the field one morning!

A brown pony in a fenced field grazing short grass

Charlie (Talisker Tallamoor)

Age: 4

Likes: Charlie is a big softy! She loves people and I am sure she would happily get into your car with you.

More about Charlie: Charlie is sister to two of the late Queen's former steeds: Balmoral Lomond and Balmoral Jubilee.

A grey pony nuzzles the cap on someone's head (person unseen)

Tori (Talisker Victoria)

Age: 1

Likes: Tori also loves people. She's a special girl with the sweetest temperament. She moves for fun.

More about Tori: Sadly Tori was orphaned after loosing her dam at just a few week's old. As a result, she was hand-reared by us and has adjusted well to an upbringing without her mum.

Clover (Whitefield Princess Georgia)

Age: 1

Likes: Tori! They are best friends. She is also loves to help the rangers with their jobs.

A white Highland pony stands looking to camera as the sun sets

Rose (Rhidorroch of Talisker)

Age: 22

Likes: To keep everyone in line.

More about Rose: Rose is the matriarch of the family. She was one of the first foals we ever bred.

A brown Highland pony in a white flowery grassy field

Bumble (Frasmaron Camellia)

Age: 16

Likes: Riding with Katy the reserve manager.

A dapple grey Highland pony wearing head collar

Jenna (Jenna of Talisker)

Age: 16

Likes: Cuddles! She is probably the sweetest of them all. She will do anything that's asked of her.

A light brown pony stands in a grassy field

Nutmeg (Finglands Nutmeg)

Age: 20

Dislikes: Stables. Nutmeg is claustrophobic so is happiest in the freedom of the Fen!

More about Nutmeg: Nutmeg's dad is a famous lad (Torrin of Croila)- he was overall champion at Olympia in 2008. There are not many highland ponies who have managed this!

White Highland pony being ridden with rider wearing sash and ribbon

Junior (highland chief of Talisker)

Age: 13

Likes: Winning prizes!

Dislikes: Kisses.

More about Junior: Son to Rose, Junior is one of our breeding stallions. He was Supreme Champion at the Royal International Horse Show, Champion at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and has qualified for Horse of the Year and Olympia many times. If you follow avtequine on Facebook and Instagram, then you will find many videos and photos of him in his posh frocks.

We hope you enjoy seeing the ponies as they do their important work around Woodwalton Fen. Please remember, they're getting plenty of natural forage so don't feed them or try to enter their fields. Thank you!