Scotland Mob Grazing for Diversity

[Nature Friendly Farming]

Mob Diversity for Grazing: Enabling Natural Meadow Regeneration Through Adaptations to Grazing Management​

The first event of this flagship project – Mob Grazing for Diversity – took place in the Cairngorms National Park this week, bringing farmers and plant species monitoring volunteers together for their initial training session. The project seeks to help farmers increase pasture plant species diversity on their farms through adaptive grazing management.

The project, which is supported by the Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund 2021, brought participants together at Croft of Clachaig near Nethy Bridge for botanical training with botanist Ben Averis as well as a grazing discussion with NFFN Scotland Steering Group member Nikki Yoxall and PFLA Scotland Regional Facilitator Clem Sandison. The project is a collaboration between the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Plantlife Scotland, the Nature Friendly Farming Network and the PFLA.

Farmer Andy Duffus, from Mains of Auchriachan Farm,said he was looking forward to seeing if mob grazing might help restore some ground that is currently predominantly tufted grasses that he would like to see become more species-rich and productive.

The next stage of the project will be a series of workshops, mentoring and facilitated support for the participating farmers to plan for mob grazing on their farms in the future.