PONIES are set to canter next autumn to help bring new life to tired sand dunes at a high priority habitat site in the county.

The dunes, at Freshwater East, are part of 90 acres of coastal land acquired earlier this year by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. They are classed as very important nature conservation sites.

Generations of farmers allowed livestock to graze the dune grassland areas, but when this farming practice died out so the quality of the dune habitats declined rapidly. Scrub and undergrowth took over, along with a particularly invasive species, sea buckthorn.

The National Park Authority is discussing with various local groups about re-introducing dune grazing next year, with ponies on site during the autumn and winter months.

Park monitoring ecologist Mike Howe, who is involved in the project, said: A controlled grazing programme would improve the quantity and quality of the dune grassland habitat. The grazing area would be restricted to a central part away from most of the housing and concentrate on habitats which have not developed into full-blown scrub and woodland.

Ponies only would be used for light grazing during the autumn and winter - probably no more than four months in the year.

Small scale cutting is also planned to reduce the extent of large blocks of scrub, while retaining and increasing the amount of scrub edge vegetation which is beneficial to invertebrate species like glow-worms and bush crickets.

Around 1,400 metres of fencing is required in advance of the ponies arriving. Where the fencing crosses rights of way and other access points, gates would be installed and the existing fence alongside the Coast Path National Trail removed.

There would be no restrictions for dog walkers, although they would be asked to keep their pets under control at all times.

There would also be clearance of sea buckthorn - the long-term goal being to eradicate this very invasive species, which has taken over in several areas.