9:30am Saturday 4th July 2009
RSPB Ramsey Island in Wales has welcomed its first cattle onto the island for over 40 years. The four Welsh blacks, delivered last week (Sunday 28 July) are the first since 1963 on the nature reserve, just off the Pembrokeshire coast.
There are currently around 200 ewes and five ponies on the island and having the 12-month-old cattle will complement the existing grazing programme. Cattle grazing will provide short tussocky grass, which breeding lapwing prefer for nesting.
Chough – a significant breeding species on the island - will also benefit through improved foraging, as the cattle dung will attract insects that they will feed on. There are eight breeding pairs of chough – the rarest member of the crow family - on Ramsey Island this year.
Greg Morgan, RSPB Ramsey Island Warden said: “In previous years, we’ve had a substantial rabbit population to maintain grazing duties, an outbreak of myxomatosis in 2007 reduced the rabbit population which hasn’t yet recovered.”
Greg continued: “We chose Welsh blacks as they are a native and hardy breed so will out-winter here no problem. They will be a great addition to our existing family here, and have an important conservation role to play on the island.”
The cattle were bought by two local farmers Derek Rees, who is an RSPB contract shepherd on Ramsey Island, and Roger Mathias who owns Furzy Mount Farm in Pembrokeshire.
RSPB Cymru would like to thank Derek and Roger for organising and financing the return of cattle to Ramsey Island, and also Tom Spittle who loaned a forklift truck on the day. This is a great example of conservation and farming working in partnership.
Wales is an important breeding location for choughs – distinguished by their shining feathers and bright red legs and bills - with around three quarters of the UK’s population here. They are typically attracted to wild coastal cliffs, just like Ramsey Island and RSPB South Stack Cliffs on Anglesey. More information about visiting these reserves can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/reserves
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