Cairngorms Nature: Mob grazing for diversity
Cairngorms Nature: Mob grazing for diversity
By Rebecca Watts, CNPA Conservation Officer
Mob? Diversity? How do these things go together you may wonder? These mobs are not intent on causing trouble or violence, simply in need of a good pasture feed! And the diversity we’re referring to is of the botanical kind.
If you’ve ever experimented with how you mow your lawn during the summer months you will understand how grass can be transformed into an audio and visual feast through some simple changes to the management regime! So too on larger pastures – grasslands are reactive.
A flagship project kicked off this month bringing farmers and plant species monitoring volunteers together for an initial training session. The project seeks to help farmers increase pasture plant species diversity on their farms through an adaptive grazing management approach.
Mob grazing can deliver benefits for plants, soil health, pollinating insects and not least increasing agricultural productivity. This depends on what the farmer aims to achieve.
It is done by short duration, high density grazing with a longer than usual grass recovery period.
This involves concentrating the cattle and moving them on to fresh areas regularly. It requires fencing and making water available at multiple locations to accommodate the moving herd. The increased rest period of the land results in more grass and greater variety of plants – providing improved productivity and animal health benefits.
The project, which is supported by the Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund 2021 brought farmers and others together at Croft of Clachaig near Nethy Bridge for botanical training with botanist Ben Averis and Plantlife Scotland. There was also a grazing discussion with the Nature Friendly Farming Network and Pasture Fed Livestock Association. The project is a collaboration with support from the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
The next stage of the project will be a series of workshops, mentoring and facilitated support for the participating farmers to plan for mob grazing on their farms in the future.
It is hoped this technique will prove to be one of the tools available to land managers to help reverse the decline in species rich grassland being seen in the park and nationally. The trials will be monitored by citizens scientists through the Rare Plants and Wild Connections project.
For more information on how to become a citizen scientist in the Plantlife Scotland’s Rare Plants and Wild Connection Project or to learn more about mob grazing please contact Rebecca in the conservation team who can put you in touch: [email protected].
Alert
Latest from the National Park
Ongoing wildfire near Ryvoan Bothy
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners are currently in attendance at a large fire south of Aviemore.
Historic bridge in Nethy replaced after years of community effort
New bridge over Allt Mòr Burn officially opens
Endangered ant queen found in Royal Deeside
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Relevant alerts
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Update - 21:55
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have shared that emergency services continue to tackle a large-scale wildfire covering more than two kilometres in width near to Glenmore.
A number of homes and businesses, including campsites and ski resorts within the Glenmore Forest Park area, have been closed and evacuated as a safety precaution due to the close proximity to the incident.
As of 9pm on Wednesday night (15 July), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service currently has six fire appliances, a wildfire unit, specialist resources and tactical commanders mobilised to the scene after the alarm was raised just before 12 noon earlier today.
Firefighters are working with landowners to contain the incident and create fire breaks, with high winds causing the fire to spread across areas of trees and woodland. There are no reported casualties.
Road closures continue to be in place to support the emergency response, and people are asked to avoid the area within Glenmore Forest Park and Loch Morlich on Thursday, 16 July as this incident continues.
We will share updates as the situation develops. In the meantime, our thanks go out to the emergency services, gamekeepers, NGO and estate staff and many others from across the community who are working non-stop to get these fires under control, and providing support to those affected.
Update - 20:06
Emergency services and partners are continuing to respond to this wildfire. A number of properties and premises in the area have been evacuated as a precaution. The Ski Road is currently closed. Anyone walking in the Cairngorms should avoid the area and let family or friends know when they have returned.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and partners are currently in attendance at a large fire in the open near to Ryvoan Bothy within the Cairngorms National Park.
Due to large volumes of smoke travelling towards populated areas nearby, residents in Aviemore, Glenmore and the surrounding communities should keep their windows and doors closed. If you are within this area and can see or smell smoke, please follow the same advice. If you are aware of someone hiking in the area, please ask them to get themselves safely off the hill as soon as possible.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has asked that people avoid the Glenmore and Aviemore area, and remain vigilant. Our thanks go to all those engaged in active firefighting - we will post further updates when we have them.
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Very high fire risk - 15 to 20 July
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has issued a very high wildfire warning impacting areas of the National Park on Wednesday 15 until Monday 20 July. If you are out and about in the Cairngorms National Park please observe the following guidance:
- Do not light any fire or barbecue, in line with the new fire byelaw
- Always ensure cigarettes are fully extinguished and take your litter (including glass) away with you
- Enjoy the outdoors responsibly - most wildfires are caused by human activity
- Stay alert - with dry vegetation and warm weather, fires can start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely
- If you see a wildfire, dial 999
For further updates on wildfire risk across Scotland, visit the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service website. To find out more about the fire byelaw, and to see your questions answered, visit our fire byelaw page here.