Project to graze cattle on moor comes under attack

By mtstevens

NATURAL England's Heath project to graze cattle on West Penwith's open moorland, to control gorse and restore heathland, has come under fire.

Since completing the scheme at Carnyorth Moor, which involved installing barbed wire fencing, a cattle grid and nine new gates, campaign group Save Penwith Moors says the agency hasn't lived up to its promises.

According to co-ordinator Ian McNeil Cooke, Natural England gave an undertaking last January that the bridle gates would be modified to make them openable by riders without hazard and that mounting blocks, to give extra height to make access easier to the saddle, would be installed. "But neither has been done," he said.

The group is also concerned about the cattle using the heavily restored prehistoric Tregeseal Circle as rubbing stones fearing damage is likely to be caused if it continues.

Since longhorn cattle started grazing on the moors at Carnyorth a few days ago, McNeil Cooke says he has already received complaints from horse riders and walkers alike. "Although the longhorn cattle has only been out on Carnyorth Moor for a few days, complaints have already been sent to us," he said.

"One horse rider with children on a leading rein couldn't negotiate the gates or the cattle so they had to abandon their ride on the moor.

"And on Sunday, another couple who were not prepared to dismount and open the gate nearest the pond nor the one above it due to cattle congregating very close to them had to take an alternative route. This involved road works and they were unable to access the moor at the top of Devil's Lane due to the non-availability of anything to remount from her 17.2hh horse.

"They have no issue with cattle in general but didn't want to put their horses in such close proximity to these beasts due to the potential for serious injury to the horse from the horns."

Save Penwith Moors, which argues the project is burying West Ninth's ancient sites and strangling valuable heathland, has declared it is clear that the agencies and graziers involved in the project have completely ignored the concept of dialogue to address public concerns.

But Natural England's land manager Peter Bowden said the bridal gates were discussed at the last Penwith Moors Forum meeting held on Tuesday, May 12.

He added: "I stated that I intended to look into it."