Cattle field, Sirhowy Hill Woodlands
In winter you may see British White heritage cattle in this field – a breed which has existed since the 17th century but dwindled to low numbers in the 20th century. They help to conserve the big grassland area of the Local Nature Reserve and are part of the programme to increase the numbers of British White cattle.
Grazing by the cattle helps keep down the scrub in the cattle field. They eat the millennial grass, which allows more native flora and fauna to flourish. Fencing this field keeps dogs and people off the grassland, as per the ecological management plan.
This is allowing bugs and invertebrates to prosper. Surveys by Buglife Cymru are building up a picture of what is here and what comes in as a result of the grazing. Click here for our page about the invertebrates that are already established in the Local Nature Reserve.
The British White breed is descended from the ancient indigenous wild white cattle of Great Britain. It is naturally polled (it has no horns), is large and hardy, and is farmed for both beef and milk. It can stay outdoors throughout winter in most weather conditions, while also being known for its tolerance of heat.
Some cattle within the breed have white hair overlying dark skin pigmentation which increases their tolerance of hot climates. The cows generally calve easily, with good mothering instinct and vigorous calves.
By the 1920s, the breed was down to only 130 registered animals. The bull which grazes here was bought by the Sirhowy Hill Woodlands CIC in 2024 and is called 'Cadarn Scania', from the Pedigree Cadarn Herd. The heifers belong to local farmer and woodlands volunteer Andrew Skinner.
Grid reference: SO149096