Herd the news?
A local farmer is kindly loaning the district council five Dexter cows that will be released onto Chasewater on Wednesday 25 January.
The breed was chosen because Dexters are a small native species known for their hardiness and good temperament. The small herd will include heifers (females that have not had a calf) and steers (males that have been castrated).
The cattle will help the district council to manage Chasewater’s heathland, by grazing on the vegetation, which if left unattended would revert back into woodland.
If the grazing is successful, the council’s countryside team will extend the grazing area and increase the number of cows throughout the year.
The presence of cattle on Chasewater does not mean the area is out of bounds to visitors. The footpaths through the north shore fields are still open to everyone, but please keep a reasonable distance to the cows and do not feed them. Also remember to keep all dogs under close control when near the livestock, as required by the Countryside Code.
Chasewater will be home to the cattle throughout the year, but the herd will be moved to different fields as the seasons change.
For more information on the conservational grazing on Chasewater, please contact Chris Walsh, Lichfield District Councils Biodiversity Officer, on 01543 308164 or 07803832375.
