Flood-stricken cattle arrive at dunes
AINSDALE Local Nature Reserve will once again host cattle this winter after Sefton Council came to the rescue of floodstricken cows.
High levels of floodwater in Lancashire have pushed forward the date for the annual arrival of redpoll cattle, which spend the winter grazing and enhancing Sefton’s coastal ecological system.
Sefton’s Green Sefton team was expecting the arrival of the cattle later in the month, but they arrived on Tuesday, after heavy rainfall in their summer surroundings.
The borough’s coastline is one of the most important areas in Britain for nature conservation and enjoys the highest level of protection under UK law as a site of specific scientific interest for its flora and fauna.
The dunes are home to many specialised plants and animals such as natterjack toad, sand lizard, great crested newt, and other protected species such as petalwort.
However, this dune habitat is increasingly under threat from invasion by coarse grasses and non-native scrub species.
To combat this, Sefton Council secured a special conservation grazing scheme which has brought cattle to the site for a number of years in winter.
The redpoll is a relatively small native English breed. Having been originally bred in Suffolk and Norfolk, the breed was developed to produce good milk while also being able to fatten well.
Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said “Conservation Grazing is a fantastic, cost effective and natural way to protect our natural dune systems and we look forward to seeing the cattle make a return this week.”
For more information about Green Sefton’s coastal work, visit www. sefton.gov.uk/beaches.