Grazing is increasingly recognised as an essential tool in conservation management. At our countryside sites we use cattle to improve the biodiversity, protecting plants and animals and increasing their opportunities for survival and colonisation.
We graze using traditional breed cattle and ponies which belong to local graziers as we do not have the capacity to own and manage our own stock.
It is important that graziers are able to maintain their stock in good health by grazing on the correct forage which grows on our sites. We do not support supplementary feeding and the stock can graze freely across the sites.
We have traditional breed cattle grazing on:
Further grazing is scheduled at a number of other countryside sites.
Public access to all the sites that are grazed is welcome. Dog walkers must abide by the Countryside Code and keep dogs on a lead when walking amongst cattle.
By law, you must:
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control your dog so that it does not disturb or scare farm animals or wildlife
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keep your dog on a short lead on most areas of open country and common land between 1 March and 31 July, and at all times near farm animals
You do not have to put your dog on a lead on public paths as long as it is under close control. As a general rule, keep your dog on a lead if you cannot rely on its obedience. By law, landowners are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.
For more details please read the Countryside Code (this page opens in a new window).
All our grazing sites are fenced where necessary and gates have been installed at the relevant access points. We are gradually replacing stiles with gates to ease access into all our countryside sites.
The cattle and ponies are inspected and a record is kept every day, in accordance with the Welfare Regulations. If you have any concerns regarding the stock or there is an emergency please contact the Trees and Countryside Manager using the details below.
Volunteers
If you are particularly interested in keeping an official eye on the stock we are searching for volunteer 'Lookers'. Volunteers will be offered formal training.
The role of a Looker:
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make regularly checks of the cattle from a distance
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complete the necessary paperwork
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email or deliver a copy of their record to Parks and Countryside Services
Please note: Volunteers are not allowed to handle stock
For more details please contact Trees and Countryside Manager, using the details below.
Trees and Countryside Manager
Parks and Countryside Services
Guildford Borough Council
Stoke Park Nursery
Nightingale Road
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 1ER
Tel: 01483 444771
Email: countryside@guildford.gov.uk