This Nature and Wildlife Group shoot was originally planned to take place in November but had to be cancelled due to the covid-restrictions in force at the time. However, with Norfolk placed in Tier 2 from 2nd December and some members keen to get out again with their cameras it has been re-organised prior to Christmas. In addition, the Society has updated its Covid Guidance & Procedures to ensure that all events/shoots are covid secure. A copy of the latest guidance is available to download using the link below:

This shoot provides an opportunity to photograph the Konik Ponies at the NT’s oldest reserve and most famous fen. Wicken Fen, one of Europe's most important wetlands, supports an abundance of wildlife. There are more than 9000 species, including a spectacular array of plants, birds and dragonflies.
The raised boardwalk and lush grass droves allow easy access to a lost landscape of flowering meadows, sedge and reedbeds, where you can encounter rarities such as hen harriers, water voles and bitterns.
Wicken Fen Vision, an ambitious landscape-scale conservation project, is opening up new areas of land to explore. The grazing herds of Highland cattle and Konik ponies are helping to create a diverse range of new habitats.
As the nature reserve expands under the Wicken Fen Vision, it would not be possible to manage the enlarged reserve using traditional methods of man and machinery, instead a more sustainable approach is needed.

A new approach
The NT’s restoration approach is based on three key elements; the natural regeneration of plants, reducing the loss of water through field drains and ditches, and thirdly, the use of grazing animals.
Grazing animals are essential to the development of vegetation in new areas of the nature reserve. The animals help keep the landscape open and help wetland and grassland plants to become established.

Why Konik ponies and Highland cattle
The hardiness of the breeds means they are more than capable of withstanding the rigours of life on the fen throughout the year and thrive on the available forage.
The Konik pony is a very hardy breed originating from Eastern Europe ideally suited to wetland environments. The Highland cattle originate from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland,they are tough and robust with a placid nature. 

How the animals influence their environment
The effects the animals have on developing vegetation will vary according to their density and feeding behaviour. Some areas will be grazed more heavily, whilst other areas may escape allowing the vegetation to grow taller. 
The animals also create other habitats such as well trodden paths through areas of long grass, dusty hollows where they roll, water-filled hoof prints and piles of dung. The animals act as catalysts to help attract new species of flora and fauna to the fen.
Horses tend to snip off selected plants with their incisors, creating a mosaic of short cropped 'lawns'. Cattle largely graze by pulling or tearing at vegetation, leaving a landscape with a more 'tussocky' appearance. 
With these different grazing characteristics, the breeds are the perfect engineers for the long term management of vegetation across new areas of the nature reserve.

About Konik Ponies
The Konik Polski is a very hardy, primitive looking breed originating from Eastern Europe. It is well-adapted to and thrives in wetland habitats and has been used successfully to help manage nature reserves right across Europe. They have a stolid nature and even temperament, even when left unhandled, so they make the perfect breed for an extensive grazing programme like the one at Wicken Fen. The Koniks came from a nature reserve in the Netherlands with a very similar management system to that of Wicken Fen.

Top tips on how to see the animals
The main grazing groups can be seen on Baker's and Burwell Fens.  It's important to keep to the footpaths that go round the edge of these areas, and not to approach the animals.  Although the ponies and cattle may look adorable, they can bite and kick, particularly if you get too close to their family group. 

Meet in the NT’s car park by 10:45 for a briefing before the shoot commences. Please note NT car parks are free to members but normally there is a charge for non NT-members payable at a ticket machine in the car park.

Special instructions
1) Ensure you wear sensible clothing for the weather and the appropriate footwear.
2) Please read the Health & Safety guidance for landscape shoots before joining the shoot

Covid - 19 Restrictions on outdoor gatherings Social gatherings of more than six people will be illegal in England from Monday 14 September - with some exemptions - amid a steep rise in coronavirus cases.

Members attending the shoot are expected to follow the Society’s curent guidance regarding covid-19 which is available from the message board in the members’ area of the website