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11 December 2006
Wildlife Trust sheep are attacked
Local dog owners lose control of their pets on a Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire
There has been a recent spate of dog attacks on sheep at Twywell Hills and Dales nature reserve, East Northants, just off the A14 near Cranford, resulting in one death and two serious injuries.
One attack was so severe the sheep died through severe loss of blood. The worst attack took place on Wednesday 8 November with another on Tuesday 14 November.
Cathy Wainwright, Grazing Manager, said, "Introducing livestock onto publicly accessible reserves was always going to be a sensitive issue. We try to avoid potential conflict by providing good information prior to the animals arriving on site, and while they are present. We also always ensure there are alternative areas for people to enjoy. Our policy has always been that dogs are allowed on leads on our reserves. We are investigating other ways of protecting our flocks and will continue to raise awareness about the rules of the countryside".
Grazing is the natural management for almost all habitats in lowland Britain, which are not covered in trees. Without grazing, our colourful flowery grasslands disappear, and with them the birds, butterflies and other insects, which are such a vibrant part of the traditional, English summer. Stop grazing, and thistles, brambles and hawthorn scrub quickly takes over, stifling the dozens of kinds of flowers, which our grasslands support.
Since the Second World War, the biggest change in farming has been greater specialisation: dairying in the west, arable farming in central and eastern England. Arable farms, which now dominate our area, have no need of cattle or sheep, so these have all but vanished from the local landscape, and most of pasture and meadows have been ploughed up.
The Wildlife Trust is helping to reverse this damaging trend. Employing our first Grazing Manager has enabled us to increase our own herds of traditional Hebridean, Manx and North Ronaldsay breeds of sheep (the very best for managing traditional species-rich habitats), and to take on our first cattle - a herd of Murray Greys. As a result, our grasslands are in better condition, and the wildlife is thriving. We have also built stronger partnerships with the surviving local graziers, many of whom welcome the chance to safeguard the ancient and beautiful habitats, which are our grassland nature reserves.
Conservation can be sustainable only with the support and help of local people. An important element of our scheme has been to engage with local communities around our nature reserves, so they understand why we graze, and can help us to do so. We have even provided training for the keenest volunteers, so they can check our livestock for us every day.
If you have any information regarding the attacks, please get in touch with our Northamptonshire office.