A herd of around 20 cattle are about to be released on Ronkswood Hill Meadows, as part of an annual conservation exercise by Worcester City Council. The cattle will be allowed free rein on the local nature reserve, to help preserve grassland and wildflowers.
The initiative is designed to act as a natural and cost-effective way of keeping the grass short enough to allow the vast array of wildflowers in the area to get sunlight to grow and hopefully thrive.
The cattle, consisting of a range of breeds including British Blue, Hereford Cross and Angus Cross, will arrive on the site on Monday 21 April.
Warwick Neale, Worcester City Council Green Space Manager, said: “The cattle will graze at Ronkswood Hill Meadows for around six months to manage the grassland, protecting the landscape and promoting good conditions for wildflowers and associated wildlife to thrive. This also maintains some of the traditional benefits of natural stewardship of the land.”
The meadows are home to a wide range of wildflowers including black knapweed, cowslips and bird’s-foot-trefoil, but if grass grows too high these flowers will not flourish.
The cattle will play a pivotal role in boosting these flora, as well as producing other positive spin-offs such as an increase in butterflies and improvements to the natural soil environment.
The City Council has put up signs on Newtown Road and Tolladine Road to warn walkers and dog-owners to take a little extra care and keep dogs on leads when cattle are nearby.
Warwick said: “The sudden re-appearance of cattle may take a few people by surprise, but the animals will be too busy chewing the cud to take notice of any passers-by.”
