Burrator Forest in Devon shows how woodland protection works when managers plan for access, grazing and biodiversity at the same time. The site, beside Burrator Reservoir near Dartmoor, is owned by South West Water and managed by South West Lakes Trust, which oversees more than 50 sites across south-west England. (gov.uk)

The problem starts with open gates and damaged fences. Common grazing rights on the moor, plus livestock from nearby farms, mean animals can stray into the woods and browse unprotected trees. Burrator lost about £5,500 of conifers to grazing between 2024 and 2025, showing how quickly young planting can be undone. (gov.uk)

The Trust’s answer begins with upkeep: self-closing gate mechanisms, volunteer fence patrols and regular audits. That may sound unglamorous, but it is the daily work that keeps public access open while giving new woodland a fair chance. Across the Trust’s estate, fencing maintenance already costs hundreds of thousands of pounds each year. (gov.uk)

The stronger idea is to protect the most vulnerable spots rather than fence off every animal. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme, 50 cattle were fitted with Nofence GPS collars in 2024, followed by 50 more in 2025. Defra’s Animal Welfare Committee said in 2022 that virtual fencing can be used without detriment to livestock welfare, provided it is used properly and studied further. (gov.uk)

That collar data is being analysed to show where cattle graze and when they are most active, so managers can protect trees and other sensitive areas with smaller enclosures. The broader need is clear: Defra’s deer policy, published on 20 February 2026, says 33% of English woodlands are negatively affected by deer, up from 24% in the early 2000s. (gov.uk)

At Burrator, South West Lakes Trust works with Artemis Land Management Services on deer surveys, deterrence, extra fencing and selective culling where needed, while grey squirrel plans are being developed with British Red Squirrel and local groups. Forest Research warns that squirrel bark stripping reduces timber quality and value, can weaken stems and may kill ring-barked trees. Those partnerships are also intended to build rural skills and keep specialist woodland knowledge in circulation. (gov.uk)

Some of Burrator’s most interesting fixes are low-tech. The Trust plans to trial sheep’s fleece mulch mats around individual trees to deter deer and voles, though off-farm use needs treatment and licensing, and it has also found that heavier footfall can help keep deer away. At other Trust sites, Eurasian beavers are already reducing willow growth and cutting the need for thinning. That suggests the most durable woodland plans are the ones that test ideas on the ground, then back what works. (gov.uk)