With 11 cattle on such a large site there is a hope that some of the grass will survive to flower and seed because the beasts will be after other fare. But their use of the paths is not promising. One thing that makes verges along lanes intriguing places is the chance of a surprise discovery. It's usually dependent on there being no livestock around.
The wildlife trust, if one is to believe their publicity, wants the grass to be eaten by cows in order to:
...prevent the continuing build up of nutrients and hence retain the nutrient-poor conditions needed by heathland plants.
So much for minimal intervention. Ah well. I suppose as I'm not an ecologist I shouldn't ask the question of what happens to all the other nutrients coming out the other end; as far as I can see they usually land on the footpaths.
N.B. Contrary to the post on Sunday, the orange cattle feeding bowl is still there. It had just been moved down the slope.
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