Dominic Sheldon – Trustee

A former professional archaeologist, Dominic transitioned to ecology to follow his  passion for nature and ecosystems. He is an experienced terrestrial field ecologist with botanical and protected species technical survey skills. As a trustee of the DPHT he manages and organises scientific biological surveys for the Bellever site including reptile, bird and moth surveys as well as looking in detail at lichens and bryophyte communities in association with changes in general vegetation and invertebrate/bird/reptile population structure due to changes in management related to the grazing of DPHT Dartmoor ponies on the site.

As part of his work he is utilising the Bellever site as a showcase for scientific and conservation-based research in order to attract students and professors looking for research opportunities, thereby developing, over time, a body of published scientific work that demonstrates the abilities and traits of Dartmoor ponies to restore denuded upland habitats into micro-habitat rich and therefore a species-rich sward over time. This will increase the profile of Dartmoor ponies as well as DPHT and support the Trust’s aims and objectives.