A Herd Was Formed
In September 2003 the very first Channel Islands Conservation Grazing Herd was established here on Alderney. The idea of using traditional grazing management to prevent the loss of important grassland and heathland habitats is not new, and Alderney’s herd quickly became part of the national Grazing Animals Project (GAP).
After a 2 month trial, the herd was formally established in December 2003 thanks largely to the sponsorship of Alderney Electricity and Alderney Shipping. Consisting in its early stages of a mixture of Trust and Kiln Farm Dairy owned Guernsey cattle, it was first put to winter grazing on Longis Common. The press release for this momentous event was titled “Bridging AGAP” (Alderney Grazing Animals Project), and focused on the huge decline in the practice of grazing livestock around much of the island. Since the 1950’s this has led to a dramatic increase in bracken, bramble and scrub throughout the island and a decline in the island’s biodiversity.
With the help and guidance of Mike and Claire Cox (Kiln Farm Dairy), the support of local land owners and the States of Alderney, as well as the goodwill of many walkers and their dogs, the AGAP herd now helps to manage over 20ha (almost 50 acres) of Alderney’s countryside.
The grazing programme is concentrated on the Longis Nature Reserve during the autumn, winter and early spring. During the later spring and summer the herd, which is now wholly owned by the Trust, is grazed on a number of improved fields to help put on weight and to give the conservation sites time to develop their spring and summer wildflower coverage.
Back in 2003 there were concerns over the introduction of fencing in areas popular with dog walkers. With this in mind a very careful management regime has been developed for the herd.
• Every grazing plot is fenced prior to the cattle’s arrival and the fencing removed upon their departure
• A mobile bowser is used to supply water
• A portable kissing gate and stile are used in the one plot where the existing footpath is cut off by the fencing.
Though the cattle do still cause some disruption it would seem that on the whole the need for the scheme to maintain open areas for walking and wildlife has been popularly received by most of the island’s residents and visitors.
Why Graze?
By using traditional grazing the Trust has been able to minimise the need to use large scale machinery to maintain Alderney’s most biological diverse habitats. The Trust’s tractor is now really only used to maintain footpaths and control areas of bracken. By using animals we can also ensure that nutrients taken from the land are returned in the most direct manner, thus helping to promote a wider range of insects that in turn help to pollinate wildflowers and feed the island’s mammals and birds.
Yet though traditional methods are often cheaper than the use of heavy vehicles the Trust does still have to fund the programme entirely by itself. To this end, and as the programme’s fifth year has proven one of the best for the AGAP herd, the decision has been made to make use of the dividend from all this good work, which comes in the form of local beef.
Cattle, which though now owned by the Trust are supplied by Kiln Farm Dairy, are extensively grazed and their diet has almost no artificial input, being as organic as possible within the strictures of the local grazing system.
The Trust normally sells on the meat to its membership but with the number of animals on the increase it is now able to extend the offer of locally reared, sustainable beef to the wider public. Meat is normally sold by the box (5, 10, 15 or 20kg), each box containing an assorted mix of meat including steaks, joints and mince and priced at only just above the cost of 1kg of beef mince from one of the local supermarkets (at the time of writing).
Learning More
Using grazing animals has been a voyage of discovery for the Trust and since its inception there have been 3 studies set up to monitor the changes taking place because of the animals’ presence. These have produced differing results but largely point to the need to increase the grazing pressure in order to open up the dense undergrowth of grasses which restrict other plant growth.
If you would like further details concerning the herd, or even to arrange a meeting with the animals, please feel free to get in contact with the Trust directly or visit the new premises at 51 Victoria Street and pick up a flier.
For further details please contact
Roland Gauvain (Trust Manager)
Office - (01481) 822935
Mobile - 07781 415468
Alderney Wildlife Trust has a selection of pictures available for press use. If you wish to use any of these please contact us.
For further general details tel: (01481) 822935 / email:manager@alderneywildlife.org