June 2023
Conservation Grazing with Cattle
Two years on from the wildfire, we have now introduced cattle to the lower slopes of the Millstone and Thomas Mountain. These lower slopes have been dominated by purple-moor grass and other rank vegetation since the wildfire and have been avoided by the grazing sheep as determined by the GPS collars fitted.
These habitats dominated by purple-moor grass, inhibit the recovery of the heather species previously found in these areas. To promote the re-establishment of heather this, rank sward needs to be broken down. To do this there are new conservation heroes on the mountain, with a small herd of Luing cattle being introduced. These cattle are hardy and therefore well suited to this upland environment. The cattle on the mountain have been wearing Nofence GPS collars which allow the stock to be managed within target areas of habitats or ‘virtual pastures’ across the property. Since the cattle have been introduced, positive measurable changes have been recorded within the habitats in which they graze, as they reduce the cover of purple-moor grass, allowing young heather saplings to recover.
We hope that over the coming years the conservation grazing carried out by our conservation heroes will promote the recovery of the mountain.