Govind Tekale
A £3 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is granted to protect Dartmoor’s heritage ponies, whose numbers have fallen to just 300. These ancient breeds have shaped Dartmoor’s landscape for centuries through their natural grazing habits.
Mike Lithgow, Chairman of the DPHT, expressed his enthusiasm: “The funding is more than just a financial boost. It’s an endorsement of the trust’s ongoing conservation efforts and allows us to elevate our work to new heights.” The trust’s immediate goal is to grow the population to 500 ponies, preventing harmful inbreeding effects.
Recent University of Plymouth research shows these ponies’ vital role in moorland health. For example, these ponies eat an invasive species of grass—purple moor grass (Molinia caerulea). “Molinia is an aggressive and dominant grass that overwhelms less robust species, and managing it sustainably presents a serious challenge,” says project lead Dr. Paul Lunt, Associate Professor of Environmental Science at the University.
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The money supports practical conservation through 2030, including school education programs and partnerships with local farmers. Together with contributions from partner organizations, total investment reaches £5 million. The project unites the Woodland Trust, RSPB, and environmental agencies in protecting both ponies and moorland.
The DPHT plans focus on proven methods: expanding grazing areas, teaching traditional pony management, and bringing communities together to protect these animals. These efforts aim to preserve both the breed and its centuries-old role in maintaining Dartmoor’s unique landscape.
