What’s the problem in letting ragwort grow unmolested in a field? Ragwort has gained a reputation, bordering on the extreme, as a killer of grazing animals. Is this reputation justified? I think not! I’ve heard it said that ragwort will completely invade a field if left unchecked. Well…will it? Yes! In a field where the ground conditions are right, ragwort can flourish. I like ragwort! I like that ragwort is a top… Read More
Wilden Marsh is in the middle of its injurious and invasive plant growing season right now, and I’m yet again attempting to control their spread. I like to encourage as wide a range of vegetation as possible on the marsh that is advantageous to fauna and the Reserve, as long as the injurious and invasive plants can can be controlled and the animals eating them are not being poisoned. It’s not the… Read More
My eight-year-old grandson sat beside me on the settee at home and, on watching Friday’s video, asked if Jill’s new bull calf could be named after him. So the calf’s name is now Sam-Bull Shetland. Later, a panicked Jill Shetland galloped through Hoo Brook Pasture gate and down the corridor, coming to a dead-stop at North Riverside Pasture gate. She had a quick look into the pasture before walking slowly back along the… Read More
Category: Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve Tags: Belted Galloway Cattle, Cattle eating thistle, Conservation Cattle, Hoo Brook Pasture, Nature Conservation, Nature Photography., Photography, Shetland Cattle, Wilden Marsh, Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Wyre Forest District Council Rangers, Wyre Forest Grazing Animals Project
From Hoo Brook ramp I could see Jill Shetland on her own in Hoo Brook Corridor. The other herd members were busy grazing Hoo Brook Pasture. Jill looked at me and then nervously into the dense vegetation near the stock fence. She again looked at me and again into the dense vegetation. I walked over to her; a metre away was Jill’s new-born calf. The calf lay dead still with its eyes… Read More
Category: Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve Tags: Belted Galloway Cattle, Conservation Cattle, Hoo Brook Pasture, nature, Nature Conservation, Nature Photography., North Pasture, Shetland Cattle, Thistle Eating Cattle, Wayne and Waynetta, Wilden Marsh, Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve, wildlife photography, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Wyre Forest Grazing Animals Project
The herd made the move from Falling Sands Nature Area successfully this morning, crossing the service road and Hoo Brook bridge to access Hoo Brook Pasture; although, they were a bit slow to get going at first. As usual the move disturbed their rest period. I tried to get Waynetta the lead the herd, but she is too easily distracted by tasty morsels. Finally, Tulip picked up her hooves and ran for… Read More
Category: Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve Tags: Conservation Cattle, Hoo Brook Pasture, Kidderminster, Nature Conservation, North Pasture, Shetland Cattle, Thistle Eating Cattle, Wilden Marsh, Wilden Marsh Nature Reserve, wildlife photography, Wyre Forest District Council Rangers, Wyre Forest Grazing Animals Project