About the Project
The management of the wildlife habitats within the Limestone Country is entirely
dependent on the maintenance of upland mixed livestock farming systems. Over the
last 40 years there has been a change from cattle, the most suitable grazing stock
for conservation management purposes, to more specialised sheep enterprises.
In addition hardy upland cattle breeds, which were responsible for creating and
maintaining the mosaics of habitats in the area have been replaced by less compatible
modern commercial breeds. These changes in agricultural systems, along with a
general increase in stock numbers, have resulted in a general decline in the conservation
status of the internationally important sites for which the Limestone Country
is famous. The project aims to enhance the wildlife habitats of the area by trying
to redress the balance of livestock grazing by providing grants to establish herds
of hardy cattle breeds.
