THE Sheep Liaison Group is visiting a number of non-forested sites in the area this week as part of a process of reviewing land known as Forest Waste.

The Group includes representatives from the Commoners' Association, the Forestry Commission, the Forest District Council, Gloucestershire County Council and the police and is chaired by local JP and Verderer Bob Jenkins. They meet regularly to review sheep issues in the Dean.

They will be looking at at the way the Forestry Commission manages this land, including the role of local sheep graziers helping to maintain the open character of the Forest Waste.

Some important wildlife is dependent on this grazing and Simon Glover of Butterfly Conservation said: "Grazing is particularly important to maintain the populations of special species such as small pearl-bordered butterflies in the Dean.

"They have historically relied on grazing animals to keep open areas for breeding and to encourage wildflowers for the adults to gather nectar on."

The review is considering the value of Forest Waste for landscape, ecology and recreation, the extent of current grazing, other potential management regimes, complaints received and the links between grazing sites.

The review forms part of the requirements of a 2007 High Court Order which addressed problems with sheep grazing in the communities. Priority areas for the review are Bream, Parkend and Yorkley but other areas are included.