Grazing in Ennerdale is carried out predominantly by sheep and to a lesser extent deer. However there is growing interest amongst farmers and conservation bodies of the role cattle can play in benefiting the local landscape and habitats. Cattle are less selective grazers than sheep and can favour certain vegetation special to this site, which includes an area of land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Natural England is responsible for all SSSI sites and is supportive of cattle in Ennerdale. For information about how we are monitoring the cattle please visit our monitoring page.

The heavier weight of cattle can have a positive impact on bracken and low scrub, breaking up mats of dead litter and creating pathways through tall, dense vegetation. The cattle can also create more ground disturbance and benefit tree seedlings by 'burying' them into the ground. Cattle are considered to be a missing 'natural process' in Ennerdale

The Wild Ennerdale Partnership is very grateful to Natural England and Cumbria Rural Development Service for their support and funding of the cattle pilot site.

In times past there would have been a greater range of large grazing animals in the Lake District. Changing agricultural activities and funding systems have focused primarily on fell sheep. The Wild Ennerdale partners support the continued role of sheep in the landscape but welcome the opportunity to introduce another grazing herbivore into the natural system and are working with local farmers and government agencies to make cattle a more viable option for the future.

A small herd of Galloway cattle was introduced to Silver Cove in Spring 2006. This pilot site covers 145 hectares and is enclosed by walls, fencing and cattle grids . The site includes heather fell, open grassland, conifer and broadleaf woodland, crags and scree. In addition there area a number of rights of way and forty percent of the site is designated a SSSI (part of Pillar and Ennerdale Fells SSSI). The Galloway is one of the oldest breeds of cattle in the UK. They are hardy and well suited to this type of mixed vegetation and forest on upland terrain. The Galloway is a quiet, placid breed and is more likely to move away from (rather than approach) people it does not recognise The exception to this would there are young calves when visitors are advised not to come between a calf and its mother.

Following two successful years and the opportunity provided by the the ending of an existing Farm Business Tenancy a second herd of Galloway Cattle wee introduced into the valley in may 2008. This herd have been introduced into an area between Silver Cove and Low Beck which included the steep forested slopes of Lingmell, The River Liza corridor and fields around Gillerthwate. As with the first herd this herd will be kept in the valley all year round with minimal intervention. Initially the Gillerthwaite fields will be left ungrazed for an extended period of 12 months or more. This is to try allow the fields to "rough up" and the grass sward deepen. The herds access to the fields will then be gradually opened up with their area eventually extending to 160ha.

Both herds are owned and managed by local farmers who live in Ennerdale. The welfare of the cattle is considered paramount and will be checked regularly in line with all current legislation. Intervention will only occur if deemed necessary by the farmer, otherwise the cattle will be left alone to feed and roam within the site all year round. In addition the cattle herd may be expanded through breeding up to a maximum of 1 animal per 10ha with cows giving birth unaided (except if welfare issues develop) on the site. Following experience over the first year breeding has now been reduced to biannual as against every year in order to give the cows longer to recover and build up body reserves following each calving and suckling period.

As the cattle introduction is experimental the Wild Ennerdale Partners are very keen to monitor the impact of cattle on the site. This is being carried out in a number of ways, using fixed point photography, small exclosures to compare ungrazed areas, aerial photography and vegetation surveys. In addition a tracking collar has been fitted to one of the cattle in the first herd, making locating the herd easier for the farmer and monitoring herd movements within the site. The collar will regularly record the location of the cattle using GPS which will then be compared with the national vegetation classification map of the site. A second collar will be fitted to a cow in the second herd in during Autumn 2008.