Sandra Hunter releases the cattle at the Giant’s Causeway. (Images: Kevin McAuley / McAuley Multimedia)
This week saw the return of grazing livestock to one of the bays at the Giant’s Causeway on the County Antrim coast.
Three Luing cows have been released by local farmer Sandra Hunter for winter grazing in Portnaboe (the old name that very aptly means ‘Bay of the Cow’), the first bay after the Visitor Centre on the way to the Grand Causeway.
The cattle are helping improve the habitat in Portnaboe, which is home to a group of tiny snails including the rare narrow-mouthed whorl snail. At less than 2mm, it is one of the smallest snails in the country and only occurs in four bays around the Causeway Coast, but nowhere else in Northern Ireland.
Dr Cliff Henry, Nature Engagement Officer for the National Trust explained:
“Before reintroducing cattle to the bay in 2020, there had been no grazing for nearly forty years which had allowed a thick mat of dead grass, bramble and bracken to build up all over the bay. That made it very hard for wildflower species and all of the associated insects and invertebrates to survive and was threatening to swamp the fragile snail habitat.
“Things have already improved markedly in the last four years since cattle have returned.”
Jenny Michael chats with Sandra Hunter about the cattle.
Local farmer of these Luing cows, Sandra Hunter, who grazes most of the farmland surrounding the Causeway added:
“My family have grazed livestock in the bays around the Giant’s Causeway for decades, so it’s lovely to see these Luings back in Portnaboe. Two of the three were here last year and it looked like they were very happy to get back out.
“Luings are a small, native, hardy breed that can easily climb the steep slopes in the bay and they aren’t fussy eaters, so don’t mind eating the rough, coarse grass that grows here. They are related to Highland cattle, with a good heavy coat, so they will have no problem putting up with the cold, blowy conditions here over the next few months.
“The visitors seem to love them as well, I think they must be some of the most photographed cows in the country! As soon as we released them, we could see people stopping to take their photographs in the beautiful surroundings of Portnaboe. It’s great to see them making a positive difference to the wildlife too.”