2nd March 2009

Highland Cattle off to pastures new

The Snaky Lane Community Wildlife Group said a fond farewell to the Highland cattle Ruby and Kayla on Sunday 1st March.  They have been on site since November and have been a great success.  Mary Langsford of the Snaky Lane Group has been part of the team that check the cattle daily and was there to say goodbye: “I am so sorry to see them go, it has been a real pleasure to visit them and get to know their characters”.

Grazing is a traditional form of meadow management and will maintain and improve the site’s grassland flora and fauna. The group are now looking forward to the spring and summer to see what effect the grazing has had. By eating off the rough grass and trampling the ground the cattle should give wildflowers a much better chance of coming through. Luke Gates who owns the cattle was very happy with this first year’s grazing and now that the system is up and running hopes to bring the cattle back in the autumn.

Keith Boulnois, Chairman of the Snaky Lane Group said: “This has been such a successful year for the group.  We are very grateful to everyone who has helped to look after Ruby & Kayla while they have been on site and of course to the Big Lottery BBC Breathing Places grant which made it all possible.” 

It will also improve access to the unused part of the site, whilst the cattle will provide a focal point for local people encouraging interest and involvement in the site.

END

For further information contact:
Sue Dent or Christine Reeves on 01252 331353.
Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership,
Ash Lock Cottage, Government Road, Aldershot GU11 21.

Picture shows the members of the Snaky Lane CWG (Mary Langsford, Jason Sylvester, John Bucknall and Keith Boulnois) helping to take Ruby & Kayla off site.  Luke Gates, who owns the cattle, is on the left.