Eleven Cows, Including Colin and Harry, Introduced to Derby Parks for Winter Grazing

The teams responsible for managing Derby’s parks have welcomed a unique set of colleagues for the winter period: a total of 11 cows. Derby City Council announced that two groups of these grazing animals, described as “mooing mowers,” have been deployed across the parks as part of an ongoing annual grazing initiative. In cooperation with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, two Highland cows, specifically named Colin and Harry, have been introduced at Sinfin Moor Park. Concurrently, nine Highland and Short Horn cattle are presently grazing at the Darley and Nutwood nature reserve. Later in the season, these bovine teams are scheduled to unite at Allestree Park, which is the site of a significant rewilding project that has incorporated cows since 2015. The council indicated that the selective grazing behavior of cattle can enhance biodiversity by fostering the growth of less competitive plant species. Furthermore, these animals create areas of bare ground suitable for seedlings and deposit dung piles that benefit insects, birds, and other wildlife. The cattle are equipped with collars for monitoring their grazing locations. Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha remarked that the cattle are a favored sight among visitors, in addition to being “fantastic at mowing.”