The species rich grassland at Latterbarrow owes its existence to past grazing by livestock. Woodland and scrub would quickly come to dominate the open areas of the reserve if stock were removed. Cumbria Wildlife Trust aims to prevent this through continued livestock grazing, using a combination of cattle and sheep.

Unfortunately, coarse grasses and scrub have increased at Latterbarrow, despite cutting and grazing of the grassland in autumn and winter. In response to this the Trust has decided to periodically increase the grazing period to include spring and summer in order to remove more of this rank growth. An increased grazing period will affect the display of flowers at Latterbarrow, with less flower heads being visible due to grazing and trampling by cattle or sheep. The individual plants will benefit in the long term however, as competition is reduced and further niches are created for colonisation by less common flora. Most of the species that Latterbarrow is renowned for do not need to flower and seed every year, and indeed are more likely to flower given more open conditions that will be created by a longer grazing period.

The longer grazing period will be used every five years, with the next such year being 2011. Livestock will be introduced to the reserve in 2011 in late May, as opposed to the usual early August start date.

If you have any queries about grazing at Latterbarrow, please contact the Trust on 01539 816300.

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