In 1998, road-side fences were erected on Ashdown Forest to allow 547 ha to be grazed by free-ranging sheep and cattle. In ecological terms, this renewed grazing has been successful and the Conservators now wish to extend the grazing to other heathland areas. Many other conservation organisations working towards similar objectives were consulted in developing this Plan.
Traditional Forest practice in respect to grazing is considered, as well as the current grazing systems employed by the grazier Commoners. In this light, appropriate grazing systems can be devised.