On Your Farm - 19/09/2010

Anna Varle discovers the ancient art of horse logging, using heavy horses to clear woodland. Helping clear a site in Shropshire, she finds out how horses can do what machines can't. Horses are particularly useful when delicate environments need attention. Marton Pool in Shropshire is a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest, and 6 horses working together are needed to clear the area. Leading the team is Doug Joiner, chair of British Horse Loggers, who helps Anna take her first steps in learning a craft thought to be over 10,000 years old. Horse Logging nearly died out in the 20th century, and by the 1980s there were only 3 full-time loggers in the UK. Now it's enjoying a renaissance, and the Forestry Commission, Natural England, and estates across the country are using teams of horses to tidy up their woodland. Presenter: Anna Varle. Produced by Melvin Rickarby.