A group of Dexter cows fitted with mini-loudspeakers playing beats around their necks has been gathered to graze (吃草) around Little Doward Hill Fort (山堡) , which was built in the 5th century BC, in the Wye Valley.
Grazing cows help support soil health, spread seeds and stop the plants from growing wildly, and the Woodland Trust hopes they will help restore the 820,000 square meters of woodland.
But to get rid of the need for unsightly fences made of wooden posts and rails which can prevent cows wandering off, they are using new technology instead. A small device on a solar-powered collar will play a musical sound as the cows approach a virtual fence tracked by a positioning system which also allows the Woodland Trust to change the grazing area the cows can enter when necessary.
"Little Doward is a really ancient and special site with not only the fort which looks over the beautiful Wye Valley, but ancient woodland as well, "said Richard Brown, Woodland Trust site manager. "It is a bit of a battle to protect the fort from plants and we have turned to grazing a small group of friendly Dexter cows. " The woods contain several rare species of wildlife, including the endangered Cosnard's net-winged beetle, a kind of insect. The site still contains a significant number of ancient and dead trees which provide deadwood for its rare species.
"For nature and restoration the cows are ideal grazers across a wide range of species that help spread seeds through their waste and gently move the soil around but without destruction, "said Mr Brown. "For the fort itself they are able to stop plants completely surrounding it and the virtual fencing technology, with an app, helps us to move the cows around—in effect, move the fence." "The cows are very friendly too, so if people do visit, don't be scared-they may just want to come up to you and say hello!"
