There are currently Herefordshire heifers at Cae Bryntwarch, near Trecastle.  They are benefitting from a wildflower and molinia diet before meeting the bull for the first time. By munching on the molinia it reduces the amount of grass allowing wildflowers to grow such as Wood Bitter Vetch and Petty Whin.  Their big hooves and weight break up the sward and make sure that seeds make contact with the soil.  This is usually a damp site with a small stream running through it but there isn’t enough water to sustain them at the moment.  It is quite a trek to fill up from here.

The Exmoor ponies at Cae Lynden, near Ystradgynlais, are regular features there.  Again they keep the volume of molinia down allowing the Devil’s Bit Scabious to flourish for the March Fritillary butterfly caterpillars.  They are busy feeding up at the moment so that they can overwinter deep in the tussocks.  Although usually a marshy site there is very little running water here. 

Cae Pwll Bo, near Abergwesyn, and Cae Eglwys, near Brecon, are other reserves where ponies or cattle need water troughs and tanks checked and filled. 

Thankfully the fencing was extended to allow access to a fairly reliable stream for the Welsh Mountain Ponies on the Nant Gyrlais Field at Ystradfawr, near Ystradgynlais.  This used to involve several journeys back & forth with the bowser requiring 4x4 drive along a really muddy track which never seemed to dry up completely!  However the ponies are checked regularly to make sure they are healthy and safe.