Conservation grazing in the Loose Valley

After a great deal of work to get the valley ready by volunteers on our Sunday working party, our flock of Hebridean sheep finally arrived on 30 April 2010. Eight sheep are currently grazing Kirkdale Meadow (the fenced section between Kirkdale cottages and Brickfield Cottage) and thirty seven are grazing Rainbow Meadow.

Within minitues of arriving they looked very much at home and seem to be settling in well. They seem particulaly to like the remains of the bonfire heap created when the brambles in Rainbow Meadow were burned! The sheep will be cared for by the owners, Ruth and Norman Coles of Round Oak Hebridean Lamb, and our own resident shepherd Pip Terry.

If the trial period proves to be a success, we hope to use the flock to maintain and improve the biodiversity of the valley by grazing different areas in rotation.

You will find more information below on the benefits of conservation grazing and the research Loose Amenities Association conducted prior to the trial.

 

Research, analysis and debate

One of the most important tasks the new committee had to address when it was elected in October 2009 was how to manage the land the Association owns, so we decided to take professional advice by consulting the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, a local government funded organisation (www.medwayvalley.org). Mark Pritchard from MVCP, who has worked with the Valley Conservation Society, Loose Swiss Scouts and Loose Valley Conservation Partnership spent several hours with members of the Land Management sub committee and gave us lots of helpful and informed advice. Among other suggestions, he told us about a local conservation grazier who farms in Sutton Valence. He has several herds of Hebridean sheep grazing in areas very similar to ours, with public footpaths running through them. One of these is at Yalding Fen, which Catherine Kenny visited as part of the research we undertook before deciding to go ahead with the trial. MVCP manage this area on behalf of the owners and say the arrangement is working well.

We also contacted the Grazing Advice Partnership, a partnership of farmers, land-managers and organisations that are committed to promoting the benefits of grazing with the natural environment and our cultural heritage in mind (www.grazinganimalsproject.org.uk)

The conservation grazier visited the valley in December to see if he wanted to enter into a partnership with us: we just supply the land, the animals are his and he is completely responsible for their care and welfare. During our discussions the question of dog worrying was raised, but his experience tells him that it would not be a problem. Hebrideans are very fast, have horns, and can and do defend themselves if attacked. The ewes are taken back to the farm for lambing.

After this meeting, we consulted a shepherd who lives and works in the valley. He is probably the most experienced person locally we could have approached, and he agreed with the conservation grazier's opinion. He knows the breed, in fact he works with them from time to time, and thinks they are a good choice.

So after a lot of research, analysis and debate the committee voted unanimously to graze sheep in the valley for a trial period. Information boards will be put up explaining the success of sheep grazing in conservation projects, restoring wildflower meadows etc, and also asking that dogs be kept under control.

If it is found that dog worrying and vandalism are causing distress to the sheep there are other strategies we can consider. Suggestions from members of the Association on how the valley can be effectively managed would be very welcome, but at the moment the only viable alternative to grazing appears to be to pay a contractor to mow it. We have approached two landscape companies, both of whom would expect a contract to mow monthly for eight months of each year. The cost would be approximately two thousand pounds per year. Regular mowing will mean no wild flowers, no sustainable use of the land and no revenue from meat sales to plough back into the care and maintenance of this beautiful area, so the committee has decided that on financial and environmental grounds this is not an option we would want to take up unless as a last resort.

There is on-going work to be done in the valley. Brambles must be removed to prevent the sheep getting tangled up, fences must be checked, etc. We alwaysl need help from volunteers to do this and any offers of time will be very welcome. E-mail volunteers@loose-amenities.org.uk.

 
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