Grazing is not a new phenomenon at Wicken Fen but the type of grazing regime that is now being applied on much of the site, is. In the past, grazing was undertaken on the Adventurer's Fen and Baker's Fen areas using domesticated animals. Recent changes to the reserve's development has meant that we are now able to adopt an extensive and more natural form of grazing.

The basic principle is to create a system as close as possible to the natural form as would once have existed throughout Europe until the mid 16th century. Britain no longer has wild grazing herbivores; most became extinct more than 300 years ago. In the absence of any wild examples we are using the best suited breeds and allowing them to follow their natural instincts wherever possible. To that end we are creating the largest possible grazing enclosures (these will be added to as more land becomes available) and allowing the animals to roam freely across the entire area. Because the breeds and individual animals have been chosen for their robust and hardy characteristics they are able to withstand the rigours of our East of England climate. As a result they are left to graze through the year.

An aspect of this self determining approach is that the males (bulls and stallions) of all groups are left "entire". Contrary to popular belief, this isn't likely to create dangerous situations. By allowing males to socialise and grow up with one another, they are, for the most part, able to establish a hierarchy without the need for the aggressive behaviour so common in domestic livestock.

Breeding is allowed to occur as dictated by the harem groups and young are left with their mothers. This creates social stability within the herds. However, this situation sometimes only lasts until the youngsters reach adolescence at which point either the dominant males evict young males or matriarchs evict young females; both events appear to occur to reduce breeding competition. These individuals are then free to roam and join other groups.