THE ancient way of husbanding pigs is alive and well in a corner of Worcestershire. For centuries pigs roamed freely in woodlands rootling up the ground foraging for food and at the same time doing a spot of land management all without the help of man.

Now, a trial project using pigs to help manage the Wyre Forest is being carried out near Bewdley. It has been put in place by members of Wyre Community Land Trust near Bewdley as part of the Grow With Wyre Landscape Partnership Scheme.

Grow With Wyre is led by the Forestry Commission and was set up to help restore the unique landscape of the area and celebrate its rich working history.

The £4 million scheme, which is mainly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is made up of 18 projects covering bio-diversity, community involvement, access, local history, economic regeneration and education.

Over the years, those involved in the management of the Wyre Forest have had a wide range of techniques and equipment available to them, such as small and large machinery and occasionally the use of chemical herbicides to control invasive plants. The new small-scale pilot project is using pigs as an environmentally friendly means to help manage the Wyre Forest.

Wild pigs were once an integral part of the woodland landscape in which the natural flora associated with woodlands evolved. Modern pig management can help maintain these habitats, reducing the need for herbicide and mechanical management and increasing floral diversity.

Mark Cleaver, from the Wyre Community Land Trust, said: “We hope that the value of using pigs to aid woodland management can easily be demonstrated as part of this pilot project. If successful, the Land Trust will seek to carry out further short trials in other areas of the forest to enhance the forest flora and fauna.”

Following expert advice from Rosemary Winnall, of the Wyre Forest Study Group, three pigs are now grazing in an enclosed area of woodland near Uncllys Farm, with permission from the landowners, the Guild of St George and Natural England.

The chosen site is ideal because it is dominated by bracken and bramble and has a relatively open tree canopy.

The open canopy is an important factor. It allows light to reach the forest floor, creating better conditions for the re-establishment of a diverse range of plants.

The pigs will remain in the wood until early winter. They will return, if needed, for a similar duration next year.

Pigs have a reputation of being destructive animals capable of destroying woodland and farmland.

However, if managed carefully, they can play a valuable part in conservation and make a valuable contribution to woodland management. The behavioural characteristics of pigs are almost impossible to copy using any other form of management.

The results of the trials will be used nationally in discussions about the use of pigs in woodland and the value of the naturally-reared traditionally bred pork, which the Land Trust plans to sell in the near future.

The Wyre Forest Landscape Partnership Scheme – Grow With Wyre – is being led by the Forestry Commission, with assistance from the Wyre Forest Study Group and a range of other partners, to ensure the longterm social, environmental and economic sustainability of the landscape.

The partners, the community and visitors are currently taking an active role in restoring about 72 square kilometres of unique landscape through the delivery of 18 projects.

Each project is designed to manage the landscape character, heritage and biodiversity that make the Wyre Forest so special.

A lottery grant of £2 million is helping to drive the Grow With Wyre Landscape scheme forward. It is also being supported with £294,000 of funding from GrantScape which has been specifically earmarked for rejuvenating the traditional orchards, special trees and ancient hedgerows of the Wyre Forest. A further £74,000 has come from SITA Trust and funding is also being provided by the Grow with Wyre partners.