Hazel and Beech

This dynamic duo arrived at Nashenden Down in June 2021. They didn’t take long to settle in and were soon off exploring their new home, once the sheep had shown them the way.

The pair were brought on-site with the plan of naturally creating and maintaining an area of disturbed ground for the species that enjoy and require those conditions, as well as for “weed” control. Pigs have an amazing ability to lift turf and snuffle plant roots. If you’ve ever tried pulling up grass with your hands you know how difficult it is; these lovely ladies use their faces!

Their dark skin helps to protect them from the sun and they particularly enjoy a good wallow in the muddy margins of ponds on sunny days. Their noses can sniff out a meal anywhere, almost as well as they can sniff out mischief; climbing in trailers, using vehicles to scratch difficult-to-reach itches, tasting everything they can reach, nose printing anything clean, and breaking into their feed bin before promptly spending the rest of the day in a food coma (not much rootling occurs on these days).