Cattle Grazing in Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve

What’s being progressed?

  • To allow cattle to temporarily graze in the following areas:
    • Nontron Meadow – in the newly fenced off area only, which is a quiet area (dog-free). When cattle graze the area will be temporarily closed to all access.
    • Rycote Meadow – in the fenced off area only, which is already a no-access area.
  • External grant funding (not Section 106) has been secured to fund the project
  • Infrastructure to enable the Cattle Grazing safely will be purchased using the funding.

Why is it being introduced?

  • The publicly-consulted-on Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve Management Plan 2025-29 aspires to “Investigate and, if feasible, introduce aftermath grazing of the meadows”. At the town council’s Environment & Assets committee in November 2025 and March 2026 details of how this aspiration would be progressed were presented.
  • Many environmental benefits including increasing biodiversity, supporting carbon sequestration, enhancing soil health and water retention, introducing cow pats (important for invertebrate habitats and food), aiding seed germination and dispersal, and increasing habitat diversity.

What’s NOT going to happen?

  • New areas being permanently fenced off
  • Reduced area for dog walking
  • Free roaming cattle in the Nature Reserve

What’s not yet been decided?

  • The type of cattle 
  • The length of grazing – this depends on the type & number of cattle and farmer’s requirements, but we expect it to be around 6-8 weeks in the autumn.
  • The start date – this is subject to the outcome of discussions with farmers and subsequent infrastructure being installed, but we are aiming for autumn 2026.

Once the above has been confirmed, residents with properties backing onto the proposed cattle areas will receive a letter confirming the details.

There are lots of other exciting plans for Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve – including improvements to the path network and signage to make the Reserve more accessible (more information coming soon). Visit the dedicated Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve webpage for the latest news.