Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is introducing grazing by cattle on its nature reserve at Woods Mill later this month (by June 30th).

Up to four Sussex cattle, possibly including a calf, will live on the nature reserve at Woods Mill, Henfield throughout the summer months. They will graze the ‘Valley Field’ part of the newly acquired land at the reserve and also ‘Little Meadow’. Some electric fencing will be used, but both areas will remain fully accessible to visitors.

SWT’s Conservation Hit Squad has been working to make the two fields animal proof and people friendly ensuring footpaths remain open and easy to access. The cattle chosen for this grazing programme are docile and no bullocks or bulls will be used. Dogs are not permitted on the reserve, excepting guide dogs, due to the sensitive nature of the wildlife present.

Reserves Officer Steve Tillman explains, ‘Using cattle to control grass and vegetation growth is the ideal way to create the best habitat for a variety of wildlife.

‘Ground nesting birds such as snipe will benefit from naturally grazed pasture as will a huge range of grasses and wild flowers, as well as barn owls who fly over the fields at dawn and dusk searching for field voles.

‘Woods Mill nature reserve is home to a wide variety of dragonflies including brown and southern hawkers, red and ruddy darters, black tailed skimmers and even the rare scarce chaser. Damselflies, easily spotted during the late spring and summer months include both the beautiful and the banded demoiselle and the powder blue azure damselflies. Grazing itself creates a variety of different length grasses while droppings from the cattle will attract the midges and flies that dragonflies and damselflies feed on.’

If you have any questions about the planned grazing of the reserve please contact Laura Bristow, conservation officer on the WildCall (wildlife information service) number 01273 494777.