They're Back!

Published: May 2008

Running pigs in woodland has existed since medieval times, when the system of pannage permitted villagers to fatten their pigs on acorns littering the forest floor.

Our approach is to use rare breed pigs (in this case Gloucestershire Old Spot) to clear brambles and bracken from the plots of conifer. Breaking up the brambles and bracken mat encourages a greater diversity into the woodland, allowing a greater range of plant ages in the understorey. This coupled with the pigs rooting into the soil makes these areas much more valuable to wildlife, particularly insects and birds.

The Gloucestershire Old Spot is a large lop-eared breed that dates back to the turn of the century. The breed originated around the Berkeley Vale on the southern shores of the river Severn in south west England. They were usually kept in the cider and perry pear orchards of the area and on the dairy farms. Windfall fruit and waste from the dairies supplemented their grazing habit. They were traditionally known as the Orchard or Cottage Pig as they lived in gardens and smallholdings and were reared largely as domestic animals. Folklore claims the large black spots are bruises caused by the apples falling onto them as they foraged the orchard floors for food.

As they get most of their food naturally, a less intensive ration is used with no additives or growth promoters. The pigs fatten slowly in a stress-free environment, which encourages tender, succulent, fine-grained meat with much flavour.

Rearing pigs in a woodland environment seems to benefit all parties. The pigs have a happy semi-natural life and the meat produced is full of flavour. The conservation value is considerable. An area previously cleared by pigs has now been sown with bluebell seed collected from one of our ancient woodlands. This seed will germinate in the freshly turned earth and grow up as the woodland floor regenerates naturally to become part of the ground flora. Much easier and more sustainable than planting bulbs, but it will take a little longer to produce a stunning carpet of blue”

We currently have seven Gloucestershire Old Spots and they are located just behind the Honywood Oak.