News / Stoke Park
Cows introduced to Stoke Park to help manage landscape
Twenty cows now living on the Stoke Park Estate have the important job of helping the historic landscape.
Made up of Shetland, Hereford, British Blue and Holstein cows, the city council hopes that the herd will provide a more sustainable and natural way to manage the land.
The arrival of the cows follows a group of goats who live near the Purdown BT Tower, who are also grazing the scrub meaning that the land can be managed without the need for any machines.
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Like the goats, cattle can often get to places that machinery cannot and they also help stop the spread of scrub and invasive, more dominant plant species, allowing other plants including wildflowers to thrive.
This will also encourage insects, which in turn provide food for birds and mammals.
Even cowpats will help biodiversity, with more than 250 species of insect found in or on cattle dung in the UK and these in turn providing food for birds, badgers, foxes and bats.
The cows have come to Stoke Park from a farm in Frampton Cotterell and will be checked daily by the herdsman and park rangers.
Goats graze near the Purdown BT tower – photo: Martin Booth
Asher Craig, deputy mayor and cabinet member for communities, said: “Our city’s wildlife, ecosystems and habitats are vitally important to us all, as the loss of biodiversity affects our lives in many ways, from the insects that pollinate our food to the green spaces that enhance our resident’s health and wellbeing.
“The cows’ arrival at the Stoke Park Estate is part of Bristol City Council’s work with One City partners in declaring an ecological emergency in February of last year in response to the decline in wildlife.”
Herdsman Toby added: “Stoke Park offers a wide variety of grass and scrubland which means the cows get a great diet that doesn’t need to be supplemented with things like soya.
“Having the cattle in Stoke Park also gives people who don’t have experience of farming or animals a chance to see them and appreciate the role they play in conservation.
“We look forward to meeting the public who are welcome to speak to our staff about how we look after them and the benefits of grazing for our wildlife and natural landscapes.”
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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