![]() The woods, part of the Upper Wye Gorge Site of Special Scientific Interest, contain several rare species of wildlife, including the endangered Cosnard’s net-winged beetle. “It is a bit of a battle to preserve the fort from vegetation and we have turned to grazing a small herd of fluffy and friendly Dexter cows.” “Little Doward is a really ancient and special site with not only the fort which looks over the beautiful Wye Valley, but ancient woodland too,” said Richard Brown, Woodland Trust site manager. The GPS system also allows the Woodland Trust to change the grazing area the cows can enter when necessary. The cows have been trained to avoid the noise by electrical pulses, which are also triggered if the cow wanders too far over the invisible fence. Grazing cows help support soil health, spread seeds and trim excessive vegetation and the Woodland Trust hopes they will help restore the 82 hectares of woodland.īut to eliminate the need for unsightly fences made from wooden posts and rails, they are using innovative technology to stop the cows wandering off.Ī small device on a solar-powered collar plays a musical trill as the cows approach a virtual fence tracked by GPS. Cows have been trained to stay within their grazing zones using mini-loudspeakers playing beats hung around their necks to protect precious woodland on an Iron Age hillfort in Shropshire.Ī herd of Dexter cows has been recruited to graze around the 5th century BC Little Doward hill fort in the Wye Valley to help boost biodiversity and spur woodland growth.
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