Now that the winter works are now finished, and Spring is well on its way, it’s almost time for the cattle to move back onto Castle Bottom. This year we will be welcoming 8-10 Highland Cows onto the site, along with a couple of New Forest ponies. During the 8 months or so that the animals are on the Reserve, the grazing herd help to produce a mosaic of micro-habitats that are essential for maintaining the richness and diversity of the heathland on Castle Bottom. Here are a few benefits of having cattle on the site:
- Grazing by cattle produces the uneven age structure of heather which is required to support the specialist heathland birds, reptiles and butterflies
- Grazing helps to keep down scrub and suppress the spread of invasive species
- The broad hooves break up plant litter, helping to maintain the open, low nutrient status of heathlands (this could also result in some extension of wet areas necessary for plants like sundews)
- The dung produced will support a number of invertebrates (a welcome food source for birds and reptiles!) as well as fungi
Many thanks to those of you who have already contacted me to say that you would like to volunteer with us again this year. As soon we have a fixed date for the cattle to return to Castle Bottom, we will be arranging an on-site training session for everyone who has expressed interest in becoming a Volunteer Cattle Looker. If you are interested in helping out this year or would like any further information, please contact us on 01252 870425 or email northern.sites@hants.gov.uk.
Ranger Natalie
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