Cattle return to Rickmansworth
The Dexter cattle were reintroduced to Stocker’s Lake meadows after an absence of many decades. It was a delight to see the first three being released from the corral into the meadow. Shy for a second, they were soon quickly enjoying their new-found freedom, jumping and running around in excitement. When the second batch was released, the herd reunited in the middle of the field, touching noses in greeting. This was a moving moment for everyone watching them. They ran once around the field before turning to face the public to moo a loud ‘thank you’
The return of our meadow flowers
The cattle’s grazing will restore the meadow, forcing back the coarse and dominant grasses and allowing more invertebrates and lower growing plant species to thrive. Stockers Lake was the first of three meadows in the Colne Valley where cattle where introduced as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded project. If you want to get involved in helping to return wildflower meadows to the Colne Valley, contact us for volunteering opportunities in your local area.
Contact details: Adam Bolton, Habitats & Access Officer, [email protected]
