WHEN it came to clearing bracken from a moorland nature reserve and machinery was not up to the job, conservationists knew who to call in.

Heavy horse Tees has been helping to clear bracken from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Fen Bog reserve, on the North York Moors.

Tees went into action where a tractor could not reach - on slopes and wet ground - and spent time pulling a roller, which "bruised" the bracken.

Field officer Andrew Cochrane said: "It takes ages to clear bracken, but Tees has broken the back of the problem.

"Bruising works better than cutting, as it weakens the plant more as sap bleeds from the damaged cells.

"This will help other plants, like heather, to flourish, making the moorland look more attractive and helping wildlife.

"Using Tees has lots of advantages. He can work in places where you can't get a tractor or where the ground is too wet and he can work more quickly than human volunteers, however keen they are.

"It is great that old traditions are preserved and that there are still things best done by horses."

Nearly 900 species of plant and animal have been recorded at Fen Bog, which is considered one of the best examples of upland valley mire in Britain.