THE ORGANISATION responsible for cutting the grass at the edge of the Droitwich Canal is using a more environmental approach to the trimming after replacing lawn mowers with ‘lawn moo-ers’.
The ‘moo-ve’ to put a herd of six Shetland cows at Coney Meadow – one of Worcestershire’s most important wildlife locations – comes after a successful trial in the autumn.
Mark Robinson, The Canal and River Trust’s ecologist, said: “The cows were brilliant last year, so we thought we’d bring them back.
“They do so much good work, creating a real mosaic of habitats that are ideal for increasing the wildlife diversity of the site.”
The grazing cattle, in contrast to mowers, provide a more varied landscape perfect for wildlife, including rare grasshopper warblers which have recently started nesting on the site. It is also good for the variety of invertebrates which protected bats and birds feed off.
Mark added a lot of visitors came to Coney Meadow and the cows, having made their home there, were another addition to the wildlife.
The Droitwich canals network was transformed and fully reopened in 2011, thanks to the hard work of local volunteers and community organisations.
Coney Meadow reed bed, built next to the canal as part of the restoration, is a hotbed for local wildlife, such as herons, kingfishers and otters, and plays a significant role in supporting the eco-systems of the surrounding countryside.
Visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ for more information on the region’s conservation areas.
The cows have been provided by Wyre Forest District Council.
