As part of our conservation management to increase the abundance and diversity of wild flowers at The Withey Beds, the family of Dexter cows have returned to graze for another season.

This year the bull is accompanied by two females each with a calf. These small cows feed off the vegetation with little damage to the ground – this grazing reduces nutrients returning to the soil which reduces competition and allows wild flowers to thrive.

This is the traditional way of managing wild flower meadows; such grazing has been part of England’s landscape for centuries.

The cows are expected to be at the site through to the end of September, but they may possibly stay longer depending on the weather, and vegetation growth.