addo - Do you have any more info on the conservation project?
I'm close to Sherwood forest but normally stay clear and visit the smaller woods around the area. This however looks really interesting.
The cattle apparently graze the grass, and trample down the bracken. This is supposed to encourage bilberry (I think) to spread its seed and germinate better. It must encourage other wild flower species to develop, as the bracken can be very restrictive.
There were two large fenced off areas. one had been grazed and one was being grazed this was in the Birklands area (the nice bit). After the cattle have been in,or instead of, it looks like contractors have been in with a machine to close mulch everywhere except around the base of trees.
In other areas of the forest, there are sheep doing the same sort of thing.
Also a few years ago I was involved in thinnig out large conifers, to allow the oak-birch sections to develop and it looks like this is continuing, and even in the more open areas this already looks rearly good. Hardest work I ever did! But one of the best jobs.