We have experimented before with putting cattle into our woodland blocks. We have always had good results, in that they spread dung liberally, create lawns around the trees and attack areas where the grass has simply got too long to be useful. So we thought we would do it again this year, and see if we can keeping nudging our black grouse numbers in the right direction.

Our woodland blocks are on some quite high ground so it is not always the most hospitable environment. Accordingly we bought some shorthorn crosses with good think coats that the weather just bounces off. As you can see, they look to be in very good order after a few weeks on the hill.