Galloway cattle have been introduced onto Helsington Barrows, near Kendal, in an effort to protect valuable species within the Environmentally Sensitive Area.

Fifteen of the small and shaggy Scottish breed were bought by David Willison, from Cinder Barrows Farm, as part of a conservation project involving DEFRA, the National Trust and English Nature.

Helsington Barrows, with its limestone pavement, oak, larch and yew trees, blue moor grass, heather and juniper bushes, is a stronghold of such birds as the curlew, redstart and crossbill and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Willison family milk a herd of around 95 cows and keep 13,000 sheep on the farm which includes around 200 acres of the Barrows. The traditional breed Galloway cattle will replace an earlier managed sheep grazing regime in an effort to promote the growth of valuable plant species such as juniper bushes and blue moor grass.

David Willison explained that, unlike sheep which eat shoots close to the ground, the Galloways will munch the abundance of mature grass which is smothering the growth of young plants.

David said that whichever breed they decided to put out on the Barrows, it would have to be able to tolerate bracken and tics and would have to be able to cope with harsh winters as they would live there year round, breeding and calving outdoors.

After seeing an advert, he and his wife, Rose, travelled to the Isle of Mull to look at some Galloways and knew they had found the right breed.

"Where they were living then they were right on the cliffs hell it was bleak," he said: "We thought if they can survive up there, they'll do well here."

On Mull, the Willisons struck a deal and bought a mixed aged group of Galloways which had never seen the inside of a cow shed and had hardly had any contact with humans.

David's son, Will, said: "We are also hoping there will be a commercial interest because there seems to be a premium for Galloways. We are hoping the heifers can be sold for similar schemes and the bulls will be able to go for meat because, grazing up there, they are as good as organic."

Being part of the ESA has been a positive thing for the farm in various ways.

"It's not a purely business decision, but being in the ESA does help a lot," said Will. "Jobs which you would be doing anyway you can get a bit extra for and it gives you the encouragement to do things you would not otherwise be able to afford to do."

For instance, the Willisons are in a three-year scheme laying hedges on the farm in the traditional way which avoids thinning out and means they end up with better hedge.

Rachel Brock, a senior rural surveyor with the National Trust, said the fact that Helsington Barrows was part of the managed habitat tier of the ESA had allowed them greater flexibility in finding solutions to managing the area. She said: "We wanted a traditional breed up there because they do a better job and are less picky than more modern breeds - they suit this area down to a T'."

April 24, 2003 11:00