The effects of livestock grazing on ground flora in broadleaf woodlands in Northern Ireland

In recent years, there has been concern that overgrazing has restricted natural regeneration in Northern Ireland, with agri-environment policy excluding all livestock from woodlands under agri-environment agreements.Historical ecology has recognized the importance of large herbivores as a functional component of the primeval woodland ecosystems of Western Europe prompting relevant research to be carried out in order to suggest suitable revisions to woodland management techniques.A study of a sample of grazed and ungrazed semi-natural woodlands in Northern Ireland found increased botanical diversity, a reduction in cover of dominant species, such as bramble Rubus fruticosus agg., an increase in ruderal species and bare ground to be associated with grazed woods.