Cattle grazing reserve to help wildlife thrive

Cattle are grazing at a nature reserve to improve conditions for its heathland plants and animals.

The 10 Sussex cattle are roaming at Wildmoor Heath near Crowthorne, Berkshire, wearing GPS collars so they can be tracked and put to graze specific areas without the need to add further fencing within the reserve.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust's (BBOWT) said it is hoped their presence will boost less dominant plants, while bare ground made by their meanderings will create the right conditions for reptiles and butterflies.

They can be tracked with a QR code so visitors can see their location - with people urged to keep their distance and keep dogs on leads.

The cattle will be moved to different parts of the reserve over the course of the summer and early autumn.

BBOWT said if the area was left unmanaged the heathland would soon disappear and turn into woodland along with its wildlife.

The cattle are regularly checked by the grazier at the reserve, BBOWT staff and volunteers.

The 91-hectare (225-acre) Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is home to rare and threatened species including the Dartford warbler, nightjar, adder, grayling and silver-studded blue butterflies.

The charity said the grazing project had been funded by a donation from a waste firm through the Landfill Communities Fund.