A WILDLIFE charity has launched a crowdfunding campaign to allow it to buy a herd of Exmoor ponies for its nature reserves.

Durham Wildlife Trust hopes to raise £9,200 to purchase and support 12 ponies on its reserves from the Tees to the Tyne.

Members of the public are asked to donate amounts from £1 to £250, with those who donate £250 given an opportunity to name one of the 12 ponies after a person close to their hearts.

Mark Richardson, the charity’s reserves manager, said: “Exmoor ponies are hardy, native breed ponies, fantastically suited to conservation grazing.

“Their double-layered winter coat means that they can withstand our hostile winter conditions and their ability to graze on encroaching rank grasses and their tendency to browse means that they naturally improve the species diversity of the sites they inhabit.

“One of the biggest summer tasks for our volunteer teams is the cutting and raking of wildflower meadows.

“A conservation grazing programme would enable our volunteers to focus on other essential conservation tasks, further improving the diversity of our countryside.”

Durham Wildlife Trust has identified eight reserves on which the ponies will graze, including sites across County Durham and Gateshead, and at the charity’s visitor centres, Low Barns near Witton-le-wear and Rainton Meadows near Houghton-le-Spring.

The trust already has two Exmoor ponies at Low Barns, where are much-loved by staff, visitors and volunteers.

A total of £4,200 has already been donated to the Pony Appeal by The John Spedan Lewis Foundation.

In addition, trust trustee and businessman Michael Coates has supported the Pony Appeal with a donation of £250 in memory of his mother, Mimi, who passed away earlier this month.

Mr Coates said: “Having the opportunity to name one of the 12 Exmoor ponies after my mother is a beautiful way of honouring her legacy.

“I look forward to seeing the ponies arrive from Exmoor and to hearing how Mimi is helping to improve the diversity of wildlife on nature reserves throughout our region.”

To get involved in the Pony Appeal, visit durhamwt.com/ponyappeal