When does spelling a grassy woodland from grazing help conserve it?
Used thoughtfully, rest can be a powerful tool in conserving native species within a grazing system. Decreasing or eliminating grazing pressure in sensitive areas reduces soil disturbance and loss of sensitive native plant species. By spelling an area in spring and summer, you will allow most native plants to flower, set seed, germinate and grow. Where stock eat new seedling trees as they regenerate, then spelling will also enable those new trees to grow. This encourages natural regeneration which reduces opportunities for weed species to invade. Rest can also be useful when an area is under water stress. However, spelling grazed woodlands is probably only suitable for areas with low levels of exotic weed infestation. Very weedy sites may get worse if spelled. If you want to improve the regeneration of both Box trees and their native understorey, consider providing rest periods for those areas. But you will need to think about the timing and the season, and its rainfall. You’ll also ne
