A HERD of Highland cattle has been recruited to enhance the natural beauty of an area of special Eden heathland.

David Hewitt, of Bank Head Farm, Crosby Ravensworth, is to bring in the hardy beasts to graze on nearby Gaythorne Plain.

The arrival of the cattle will provide a much-needed helping hand for the unusual grasses and wild flowers that grow in the limestone-rich soil of the area.

It is all part of a Natural England project to enhance the common land, where blue moor grass has spread and is overwhelming the native wildflower species, such as wild thyme, common rock-rose, milkwort, fairy flax and mouse-ear hawkweed.

As the cattle munch through the tough grass they will be helping to open up new areas where the wildflowers will be able to seed.

In turn, this will increase the variety of butterflies, insects and other wildlife.

“The cattle will do very well here as they are traditionally used to graze this type of ground,” said Mr Hewitt. “They like the rough grazing and it’s similar to the kind of places where they originated in the highlands of Scotland. It is also this type of grazing that flavours the meat which we sell at the local Crosby Ravensworth market.”

The Highlanders, which despite their horns have a very placid nature, will be arriving soon and will graze the plain between mid-May and mid-October each year.

Over time, the grazing cattle will boost the overall biodiversity importance of the area, much of which is a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Deborah Land, Natural England’s Cumbria SSSI adviser, said: "Crosby Ravensworth Fell is important as one of the largest of the few remaining areas of dry heathland at this altitude within Cumbria and also supports a mosaic of limestone grassland which is of European Importance.

“The main part of the common is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. Whilst Gaythorne Plain is not itself part of the designated site, it provides a vital stepping stone for wildlife on the Orton Fells, linking Crosby Fell to Great Asby Scar and beyond.”

Cattle are also being successfully used on neighbouring sites and are already helping to improve the biodiversity on other parts of Crosby Common as well as at Tarn Moor, Little Asby and Crosby Garrett Commons.

Tim Nicholson, Natural England agri-environment adviser, said: “We need to keep sites like this special for the future, and bringing in the cattle is a natural and cost-effective way of keeping the grass short enough to allow the growth of wildflowers within the heathland and grassland mosaic.”

Motorists using the B6260 between Appleby and Tebay are being told they can expect to see the shaggy additions to the landscape arrive soon and should be alert for any animals that stray close to the road.

Fold-out warning signs have been erected on the Common and these will be displayed when cattle are present to help make drivers aware.

Cattle management techniques will be used to encourage the animals to keep away from the road and they will be fitted with reflective ‘collars’. Satellite technology is also being deployed and one of the cows will be fitted with a GPS satellite-linked collar to assist with herding the animals.