Meet the cattle helping to restore our wildflower meadows

Meet the cattle helping to restore our wildflower meadows

Visitors who decide to make use of our exclusive private farm walks, specifically our walk around the Chalk Stream Sanctuary may notice some new four-legged members of our farm’s ecology team.

Five Stabiliser cattle have been introduced to graze the meadows for a short period following the annual hay cut. Although they might appear to be simply enjoying the grass, the cattle are helping to create healthier, more varied habitats for wildflowers, insects, birds and bats.

Why are cattle grazing at the sanctuary?

The grasslands at Southburn are managed as traditional hay meadows. During spring and summer, the grasses and wildflowers are allowed to grow, flower and provide food and shelter for wildlife.

Later in the summer, the meadows are cut and the hay is removed. Taking away the cut material prevents it from forming a thick layer over the ground and reduces the build-up of nutrients that can encourage some particularly vigorous grasses to dominate or take over.

Once there has been sufficient fresh growth, the five cattle are introduced as seasonal “aftermath grazers”. This means they graze the new growth that appears after the hay has been cut.

The cattle complement the annual hay cut rather than replacing it. Together, cutting and carefully managed grazing help to keep the meadows open and create the conditions in which a wider variety of plants can thrive.

Creating a more varied meadow

Mowing leaves most of a meadow at a similar height. Cattle graze much less evenly, choosing some areas and leaving others untouched.

This creates a patchwork of shorter grass, taller plants and small tussocks. These different heights and textures provide a greater variety of places for insects to feed, shelter and reproduce.

Grazing also helps to prevent the quickest-growing grasses from taking over. This gives smaller and less competitive wildflowers more light and space in which to grow.

Light hoof action can create occasional small gaps in the grass and press seeds into contact with the soil, giving new meadow plants an opportunity to establish. The aim is not to create large areas of bare ground, but to introduce the small-scale variation that a healthy meadow needs.

Even the cattle dung has a role to play. During the grazing period, it provides food for beetles, flies and other invertebrates. These insects help to recycle nutrients and, in turn, provide food for birds and bats.

Carefully controlled conservation grazing

The cattle will only graze the meadows for a limited period and their impact is closely monitored by the JSR Farms ecology team.

The length of time they remain in each area depends on the weather, the amount of grass available and the condition of the ground. Particular care is taken around Southburn and Eastburn Becks and on wetter parts of the sanctuary.

If the ground becomes too wet or signs of hoof damage appear, the cattle can be moved or removed. This flexible approach allows the team to gain the benefits of grazing while protecting the soil, chalk streams and other sensitive habitats.

You may notice that they are wearing special collars and there aren’t any fences.  These collars are GPS tracked allowing our ecology team to control exactly which areas they graze and ensuring they cannot wander off for a game of padel or a relaxing dip in one of our hot tubs!

From Givendale to Southburn

The cattle are Stabilisers from JSR Farms’ herd at Givendale in East Yorkshire.

JSR Farms has worked with Stabiliser cattle for many years. The breed is known for its calm temperament, moderate size and ability to thrive on forage, making these cattle well suited to carefully managed seasonal grazing.

You can find out more about the Stabiliser herd at Givendale on the JSR Farms website.

Part of a bigger plan for nature

The seasonal grazing forms part of the wider habitat management work taking place across JSR Farms.

At the Chalk Stream Sanctuary, the ecology team is caring for a mosaic of wildflower meadows, native grassland, woodland, hedgerows, wetlands and chalk-stream habitats. More than 6,000 trees have been planted, pond scrapes have been created for wading birds and nesting boxes provide safe places for owls, kestrels and bats.

Managing the sanctuary is an ongoing process. Each action, from cutting the hay and monitoring wildlife to planting trees and introducing seasonal grazers, contributes to the long-term restoration of the landscape.

See the sanctuary during your stay

Guests staying at Wold Escapes have exclusive access to countryside walks through the Chalk Stream Sanctuary and the surrounding farm.

Depending on when you visit, you may see the cattle grazing in the meadows or spot some of the wildlife benefiting from the habitats they help to create. Look out for wildflowers, butterflies, hares, barn owls and farmland birds, as well as brown trout, kingfishers and water voles around the chalk streams.

The cattle are seasonal visitors, so they will not always be present. If you do encounter them, please give them plenty of space, keep dogs under close control and follow the farm walk guidance provided during your stay.

The peaceful landscape surrounding Wold Escapes is an important part of the experience we offer. Through careful farming and practical conservation, we are working to ensure it becomes richer in wildlife and can be enjoyed by our guests for many years to come.