Cambridge’s City Grazing Tradition Faces Potential End

The long-standing tradition of cattle grazing on Cambridge’s urban commons may cease, a farmer has indicated. Angelika von Heimendahl, one of the four farmers whose livestock graze on the riverside commons in Cambridge, stated that proposed budget reductions by the council would render it “impossible” to uphold this practice. Cambridge City Council is currently seeking public opinion from residents regarding the potential transfer of expenses for an out-of-hours animal rescue service to the graziers. Simon Smith, the executive councillor overseeing finance and resources, commented: “At a time when the council is under pressure to increase charges or reduce services, we are asking whether it’s right that Cambridge taxpayers subsidise graziers in this way.” He further clarified: “We are not proposing to remove the cows from the commons – the question about grazing in our wider public budget consultation relates only to the out-of-hours element of the service the council provides for the four graziers.” Cattle are commonly observed on Cambridge’s municipal green areas throughout the grazing period, which spans from April to October. These animals are visible traversing Midsummer and Stourbridge commons, Coe Fen, Lammas Land, and Sheep’s Green. A group of animal rescuers employed by the council, referred to as pinders, provide assistance if a cow encounters trouble, for instance, becoming trapped in the River Cam. The council reported that it collects £4,000 in rental fees from the four graziers, who collectively manage approximately 90 cattle, yet it incurs an annual expenditure of £28,000 for their support. The authority is required to decrease its net expenditures by approximately £6 million over the upcoming 18-month period. A questionnaire has been distributed to residents, soliciting input on potential cost-saving areas, which includes the query: “Should the council pass responsibility for funding the out-of-hours grazing management service to those who are allowed to graze their cattle on the city’s commons?” Ms von Heimendahl expressed her enjoyment in bringing her 40 to 50 cows to graze in central Cambridge annually, but cautioned that the recently concluded season might be the final one. She remarked: “It’s quite an unusual setting,” and further noted: “It’s our most expensive grazing.” Ms von Heimendahl indicated that her insurance costs were already elevated due to various risk factors, including vehicular traffic and individuals walking dogs. She stated: “I can’t say to my customers, ‘you’re paying three times as much for our beef’ – I’ll just put the cattle somewhere else.” Ms von Heimendahl characterized the council’s questionnaire as “not fair,” arguing that the absence of the cows would be noticed by residents if they ceased to return. She emphasized: “Once it’s gone you’ll never be able to get it back.” The council’s questionnaire will remain accessible until 4 December. For updates on Cambridgeshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.