[Penninehillbilly]

Thinking about next year.
are white faced Woodland sheep really safe to put in woodland?
I have about 4 acres of young woodland, occasionally I've had to put my few sheep in while I'm doing things in their field, I've noticed they will chew at branches, twigs etc.  It seems such a waste all that grass not doing anything but choking young trees, people in charge don't seem to come up and do anything with them. Would love to see something grazing in there.

[YorkshireLass]

Shropshires are famed for leaving *most* trees alone, I wouldn't have them in with unprotected tasty saplings though
http://www.shropshire-sheep.co.uk/publications/SSBA%20P16%20Two%20Crops%20Booklet.pdf

[Marches Farmer]

As I understand it (and I've had a long conversation with a chap who bought Shropshires based on their reputation, to graze the grass on his Christmas tree business) they will indeed graze the tips of trees.  That's why this particular gentleman fenced off the trees and switched to Southdowns, which was the breed he really wanted in the first place.

I've had a visit this year from someone who wanted Southdowns for grazing the grass in his vineyard, rather than having to strim it.  When I said I couldn't possibly guarantee they wouldn't nibble the shoots he said he wanted them to, as they'd have to be pruned out anyway - the Southdowns short legs meant they couldn't graze any higher than he'd want to prune anyway.  Horses for courses but, to return to your original question, all sheep will graze young tree growth within reach.

[farmershort]

Thinking about next year.
are Woodland sheep really safe to put in woodland?
I have about 4 acres of young woodland, occasionally I've had to put my few sheep in while I'm doing things in their field, I've noticed they will chew at branches, twigs etc.  It seems such a waste all that grass not doing anything but choking young trees, people in charge don't seem to come up and do anything with them. Would love to see something grazing in there.

Do you mean whitefaced woodlands? We've got some of these!

I can confirm that they certainly prefer hedge-growth to grass... If they can get to the growing tips of young trees, I'm confident they'll try and eat them. I've not yet seen them trying to ring-bark a tree, which is good, but they have been known to nibble at bark from fresh-cut hedge material.

[Penninehillbilly]

Thanks, not sure if anyone keeps southdowns or Shropshire round here, or whether they would  be hardy enough ? I have seen a WF Woodland tup though, only a 'pet' but they wouldn't let me borrow him  . (A 'friend')
Woodland is 'native' woodland, about 5/6 years old.

[Marches Farmer]

The Southdowns can cope with pretty well anything, although I'd make sure they didn't have any French or NZ bloodlines but were traditional type with a pedigree as long as your arm.  Definitely wouldn't recommend Badger Face around trees - they spend much of their lives trying to be goats.

[Anke]

Until much more established I wouldn't risk ANY (theoretically) grazing animal in there... Can you strim/scythe some of the grass and either feed fresh to goats during the summer (which is what we do on wet days) and/or dry as hay?

[YorkshireLass]

Would geese be any good?

[Anke]

Would geese be any good?

No - they are really good at ring barking trees.

[Penninehillbilly]

It's a rough area a fair distance from the house, while most trees have tree guards on, mostly the shortest type, only rabbit proof,  i wouldn't like to leave geese down there, would need a few more to make a dent in 4 acre :-).

[Penninehillbilly]

Until much more established I wouldn't risk ANY (theoretically) grazing animal in there... Can you strim/scythe some of the grass and either feed fresh to goats during the summer (which is what we do on wet days) and/or dry as hay?

I could cut the 'ride', which I will do next year, but a lot of the trees are planted quite close together, bit risky swishing a blade about.

[Hevxxx99]

Ouesants are supposed to be good in woods.

Maybe it's just because they can't reach the branches...

[waterbuffalofarmer]

what about pigs? Kune kune for example? they are indeed a grazing pig so would they be ok? if of course you had rings around the trees in case?

[YorkshireLass]

Mmmm they still root, albeit a bit less than other pigs.

[Penninehillbilly]

Gosh I do like the idea of pigs, dad always had pigs. Sadly not fully  fenced at the bottom , donr suppose the river wood stop them.
Actually .......