‘There’s never a dull moment in grazing! They are some of the loveliest animals and we care about them a great deal - we care about their welfare. Yeah…it’s tremendous, it’s a great team, a great setup and it’s not a bad thing to work in some of the most beautiful bits of Surrey!’ – Sarah Readings, Assistant Stockperson

In October, Digital Marketing Executive Billie Pearce had the pleasure of accompanying our Grazing Team as they returned a small herd of Belted Galloway cattle to Norbury Park, a varied landscape to the east of Surrey, made up of woodland, grassland, farmland and a river valley. The cows were temporarily housed at Pond Farm on Wisley Common for their annual TB testing. After being signed off with a clean bill of health, they were ready to return to reserve grazing.

The grey and drizzly day couldn’t dampen the infectious enthusiasm of our Grazing Team: they embrace the outdoors whatever the weather. As Stockperson Scott Woods put it, ‘once you’re out there, come rain or shine, it’s just something that puts a smile on your face.’ A little (or a load) of mud wasn’t going to stop the team from getting stuck in - a healthy dose of dirt is all part of the job.

The ‘Belties’ were incredibly well trained, responding in an instant to the tell-tale rattle of the pellet bucket. Alongside our flock of sheep, our carefully managed herds of Belted Galloway cattle are a crucial component of Surrey Wildlife Trust’s conservation grazing efforts. This type of grazing supports the management of important habitats, allowing nature to flourish.

Our grazers trample, tear at and chomp on coarse grasses and stunt the growth of scrub, creating biodiverse terrain by making space for delicate flora and wildflowers to thrive. At Norbury Park, Surrey Wildlife Trust manages 33 hectares of chalk grassland for wildlife on behalf of Surrey County Council. This rare and important habitat can sustain up to 40 species of flowering plants in just one square metre, including a range of orchid species which attract a variety of butterflies and other insects.

Following a short trip in purpose-built transport, the herd arrived safely at the site. The Grazing Team secured the location using electric fencing before releasing the Belties into the spacious open area. Despite the morning’s showers, the sun shone through the tree canopy as the contented cattle trotted off into the awaiting foliage. The team activated the electric fencing to keep the herd safely within the parameters of the site while the Belties began to graze greedily on dominant grasses.

It really was a group effort. When asked about the best part of the job, the team’s response was unanimous. Assistant Stockperson Sarah Readings said, ‘For me, it’s the team we work with. Knowing that there’s a group of people that have the same goals as you, that have your back, you can’t buy it’, while Scott Woods added, ‘to reiterate what Sarah said - the team!’

While the cattle at Norbury Park are currently contained within electric fencing, some of our herds instead sport their very own GPS ‘Nofence’ collars, which come with a whole host of benefits.

On Nofence grazing, Conservation Grazing Manager Tamsin Harris said ‘it allows us to graze areas that would be difficult to fence adequately. For example, there are parts of Chobham Common that are very boggy and the ground is very soft. If a cow were to push against a fence, it wouldn’t take much to knock it over - whereas in a Nofence area, you can place an invisible border around an area and the cows can walk close to it without the risk of damaging a boundary.’

Sarah Readings chimed in, ‘if an animal does decide to go for a little wander out of bounds, we get a notification straight away so we can go and attend to them before they get themselves in a real mischief!’ before adding, ‘it also keeps that wild space open so the public can cross it. There’s a QR code so people can either find the cows easily or actively avoid them – which is a popular option for some dog walkers and horse riders!’

We’re currently raising money to maintain and expand our vital conservation work right here in Surrey. Our grazing heroes are working hard to safeguard Surrey’s habitats, and you can help.

If you can, please donate today.