The animals are part of the Flexigraze conservation grazing scheme, which uses traditional livestock to manage and restore natural habitats.

Belted Galloways are a hardy, dependable breed known for their habitual grazing style: they use their strong tongues to wrap around grasses and plants before pulling them up. This natural behaviour helps maintain healthy, balanced grasslands by preventing dominant species from overwhelming wildflowers and other important flora.

In addition to grazing, the cattle nibble at young shrubs and tree shoots, breaking up dense scrub and creating a mosaic of habitats. Their weight and movement also play a role, gently trampling vegetation and creating small patches of bare ground that benefit pioneer plants and a range of wildlife.

Cattle dung provides further ecological value, acting as a natural fertiliser and supporting insects and fungi particularly important when animals are not treated with wormers or chemicals that can harm soil biodiversity.

Each bullock on the site is fitted with a Nofence GPS collar, which uses virtual boundaries and audio cues to guide the herd across the large site. This technology allows the animals to roam widely while ensuring they remain within designated conservation areas.

Alex Lister, Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Druridge Bay Landscape Manager, said:

“Anybody visiting West Chevington via the public right of way network is likely to see the cattle. They offer a great alternative to intensive mowing, which requires significant staff and volunteer time. By grazing naturally, they help manage and maintain this coastal wilding site while supporting both the local farming community and resident wildlife. Should the grazing prove successful, we will add to the herd later in the year.”

In 2021, a £2m donation from The Reece Foundation enabled the wildlife charity to purchase the land at West Chevington, which is a game changer for lowland Northumberland and the Druridge Bay area. 

The 327-hectare site is a mosaic of woodland (108 ha), grassland (110 ha) and lower-quality arable land (109 ha), with a system of ponds, ditches and streams that will add significantly to the connectivity and resilience of existing nature sites and the whole landscape around the North sea coastline.