Jan/Feb 2024

36
South Woodford Village Gazette
GRAZING QUESTIONS
Cattle warden volunteer Gill James reflects on the recent return of cows
to Wanstead Park, and answers some of the questions park visitors had
about Quinine, Nina and Mara
When three large mammals with
massive curving horns appeared
in Wanstead Park in the autumn,
there was shock. We did not expect to see
cows here so late in the year. We had no
cows at all in 2022, due to the long drought
ruining the grazing.
So, the cattle warden volunteers rushed into
action. Our main aim was to tell people why
the cows were there and to discourage them,
and their dogs and children, from getting too
close. Ten metres was the rule. Some people
had never seen a live cow before. Most dogs
and their owners wisely decided to keep
a healthy distance. A few owners had not
trained their frisky dogs to come when called,
but soon learned to keep them on a lead.
We expected a few people to be angry. “Do
you think you own this park?” “What about
my dog’s right to roam?” “Why were there so
few warning signs up?” But most people were
delighted to welcome ‘our’ cows back, and
many people remembered them from 2021. A
surprising number were well informed already.
They asked questions. “What happened to the
calves they had?” “What are their names?” “Are
they pregnant?” “Why are they here so late
in the year?” “How long will they be staying?”
“What about all these cowpats?” “Where do
they go at night?” Answers: Quinine, Nina and
Mara (new girl). They were delayed by the
requirement for bovine TB testing as a nearby
farm tested positive. None pregnant. They
will stay until the grazing gives out in January
or February. They stay out all night. Cowpats
are very good for improving the soil and
overwintering these hardy cattle encourages
certain insect species. The grazing clears the
habitat of encroaching scrub and biodiversity
is improved. A spokesperson for the City of
London Corporation explains: “The cows have
an important job to do grazing the main acid
grassland to remove course vegetation and
young scrub, which improves the biodiversity
of this special area of Epping Forest. Grazing
is particularly important for Wanstead Park
because to mow with machinery would
destroy one of the main features of wildlife
interest, the Yellow Meadow Ant hills.”
Mara, Nina and Quinine are magic in an
unexpected way. Calm down, you frantic
urban creatures, they say. Though not in so
many words. And just a few days after that
first excitement, the park went quiet. The
cow-gazers still came, but now there was
acceptance that this was a special space to
share and enjoy. Dog walkers, strollers, cyclists,
joggers, we all have to make space for each
other. And smile. And look.
A heartfelt thank you to Epping Forest from
the volunteer wardens for this wonderful
opportunity to engage with the public, to
hear so many stories about cows in people’s
gardens or back home in India or Ireland or
Iran, and to enjoy the park we know so well
from a new perspective.
For more information about the cows in
Wanstead Park, visit swvg.co.uk/wpcows
© Tony Morrison
To advertise, call 020 8819 0595 or visit swvg.co.uk