Conservation of the Lowes

This morning I walked on Holt Lowes with my friend H. We came across the Dartmoor ponies which are used by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust to graze the area, forming a significant part of the conservation of this Site of Special Scientific Interest. H has also seen the white English Park cattle here (I haven't) which also graze the land, eating woody vegetation whereas the horses eat grass, reeds and gorse. NWT were also doing some clearance with large machines today - not often you see a 'road works' sign on an informal Lowes path!  Lots of work is also done by volunteers. The aim is all to keep the Heath from turning into scrubland, and to 'maintain the number and variety of plants, animals and other creatures that call it home'.  Holt Lowes covers 120 acres between Holt Country Park and the River Glaven. It is still technically a 'Poors Allotment', established by the 1807 Holt and Letheringsett Enclosure Act and is owned by the Holt Lowes Trustees. Originally it provided the poor of the parish with firewood and with grazing for a single cow or horse.