Case Study
Arty Cows for Conservation Grazing
Case Study Type:
Public Engagement Case Study
Sand dune system:
Studland Bay, Dorset
Case Study Subject:
A young people, community art project to engage the public with the reintroduction of cattle grazing at Studland Bay.
About The Dune System Engagement Intervention
Background information
Conservation grazing is an important tool for dynamic dune system management.
Many coastal sand dunes in the UK, are in bad condition. To provide homes for a diversity of specialised and rare sand dune wildlife, healthy sand dunes need a mosaic of habitat types. This includes short grassland, and areas of bare and open sand which are free to move. However, most sand dune habitats are currently over-stabilised and smothered with vegetation. As a result, sand dunes are one of the most threatened habitats type in Europe for biodiversity loss.
Cattle are considered an effective and natural way to maintain certain habitats. By grazing and trampling, cows help to keep overgrowing vegetation under control. They curl their tongues around the grass, pulling it up to form tussocks which are an ideal micro-habitat for a wide range of invertebrates. They also break up areas of dense vegetation, and their footfall creates areas of much-needed bare ground that dune habitats need.
Cattle grazing used to occur at Studland Bay until WW2. Under the Dynamic Dunescapes project, cattle grazing will be reintroduced in Summer 2021. Studland Bay is used by a range of users from families, walkers, dog walkers, naturists, runners, horse riders, locals and people from far away.
Reintroducing cattle grazing poses several risks. There is a potential conflict between large herbivores, dune users and dogs. The public may receive the information negatively, there may also be a litter threat to cows.
What was the change you hoped to make?
An approach was needed to engage the public with the reintroduction of grazing at Studland Bay (Dorset). The site gets very high visitor numbers, particularly in the summer months, so dune users needed to be made aware of the fact that there would be cattle on site and the need for grazing to improve dune health. An ‘Arty Cow’ trail was planned to engage visitors with the planned grazing herd introduction several weeks prior to the cattle arriving on site.
The arty cow project was set up to positively engage people with the coming cows and alleviate any future problems. It was set with the following intentions:
- Communicate with the public that cows are coming to Studland
- Engage and educate people why Studland needs cattle grazing and what the Dynamic Dunescapes project is
- Connect people to the dunes and get them part of a fun hunt for arty cow boards
In addition to these intentions, it also succeeded in: - Involving the local community and making them part of the story, those involved had a sense of ownership and pride for the dunes, their cow and the project
- Creating memorable dune experiences that either initiated or continued the nature engagement journey (this was enhanced by placing certain arty cows on atypical routes/ off-path, feedback particularly emphasised the joy of exploration)
In addition to these intentions, it also succeeded in:
- Involving the local community and making them part of the story, those involved had a sense of ownership and pride for the dunes, their cow and the project
- Creating memorable dune experiences that either initiated or continued the nature engagement journey (this was enhanced by placing certain arty cows on atypical routes/ off-path, feedback particularly emphasised the joy of exploration)
Who did you work with?
The National Trust Studland Bay team have good existing relationships with many local schools, universities, community groups and art groups. This task was facilitated by professional artists – EAP (Environmental Arts Practitioners). Schools and community groups, and Arts University Bournemouth were involved.
The arty cow idea was formulated by those that took part. EAP, Environmental Art Practitioners, got involved with Dynamic Dunescapes in 2020 and it was during one of our creative discussions that the arty cow project began. Members of EAP include professors from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) and they saw it as a fantastic opportunity for their students. It was decided that 10 cow ‘canvases’ would represent the 10 real cows coming to Studland in the summer of 2021.
What did you do and how?
An online presentation and briefing was delivered to all participants involved in painting the cows to explain more about Dynamic Dunescapes, and the need for conservation grazing at Studland.
Ten ‘cow boards’ (cow-shaped flat wooden structures) and art materials were distributed to different local groups to paint – from arts students to local school groups. Five cows were given to university students and following a webinar they painted and illustrated their cows in a way to represent the dune story. The other five cows were given to local schools and groups, including Swanage Secondary School, Sandford Primary, Stoborough Primary, Dorset Wellbeing, Purbeck Youth and Community Foundation. Each group/school received a call/webinar on Dynamic Dunescapes so that they fully understood the purpose of the project, and the importance in communicating the right message.
Just by looking at the paintings on the cows, you can see how much energy and passion each group put into the project. All groups were incredibly excited to be involved. The distribution and painting of the cows correlated with schools reopening, and so it provided a great team building exercise. A professor from AUB cut out the cows and sourced an eco-friendly material for them.
These were returned and installed around Studland’s dunes in the weeks leading up to the real cows arriving on site. They formed an ‘Arty Cow Trail’ which visitors could follow as they explored the dunes. Signs on the back of each painted cow contained details of who painted it, and of the reason for a live grazing herd being introduced.
The arty cows were painted and displayed on site. Visitor groups who participated in the trail or spotted the arty cows have expressed their understanding of the planned works and connection to the site. The location of each cow was designed as part of a trail or hunt to encourage people to explore the dunes instead of sticking to the most well-known paths or simply only visiting the beach.
Throughout the Easter Holidays a cow engagement table, led by volunteers, was erected at the entrance of the site. Every day the volunteers engaged members of the public with the arty cow challenge and the reintroduction of cattle grazing. There were two activity sheets and two information leaflets to offer members of the public. The volunteers received a 1-hour training session on zoom and were provided with all the resources to make for a safe and enjoyable experience.
The arty cow challenge and the engagement table received a lot of attention. People had seen social media posts and newsletter articles, so came to seek us out. Others were surprised, but impressed, to see us and welcomed the opportunity to do something different. The weather is likely to correlate with the success; it was good weather but too cold for the beach. Visitors were keen to do something different and the arty cow challenge provided just that.
Did it work?
The arty cow trail has enjoyed wide engagement with a variety of groups and has increased visitors’ understanding of dune dynamics and the use of cattle grazing as an important dune management tool.
Engagement with the public is ongoing, exploring and learning about the dune system. Participants in engagement activities are reporting an increased understanding of the need and role for conservation grazing, and are keenly exploring and appreciating the site behind the beach.
The public who regularly visit Studland are now expecting and understand the need for cattle being on site in the coming weeks. They have also shown interest in the ‘No Fence’ virtual fencing cattle management system that is being deployed with this herd, which uses smart
GPS collars to ensure the cattle graze only selected areas, without the need for extensive physical fences which otherwise might negatively impact the dunes.
The arty cows have been so popular that four of the ten have been chosen to remain on the dunes for longer during the summer.
Key Lessons
Careful consideration is needed for the trail point locations. Be aware of where the arty cows are placed, and the multiple uses of such areas. There was a problem of the arty cows spooking a horse on the horse trail. If repeated, this could be prevented by placing the art sculptures off such routes.
The biodegradable eco-board material used to make the cows wasn’t as strong as it could have been. Pros of the material was that it was eco-friendly, but it was quite easy to break. A few of the cows had the legs broken off during their time out on site, so we needed to reinforce the material. A stronger, but also eco-friendly, material would be recommended.
Arty cows need to be checked regularly to ensure safety, this works for the short term, but long term this is time consuming and needs to be accounted for.
Local press engagement was effective. Stories about the arty cows featured in six publications in newsletters and local news feeds. These were mentioned by dune visitors who had previously seen online that the arty cow trail was being established.
External feedback
A few messages from those that were involved:
“Thank you for all that your hard work, we have loved being part of it and the children have been sending me lots of photos.” – Sandford Primary, Headteacher
“Thank you! I LOVE your enthusiasm, it's contagious!! Thank you so much for involving us and for all the support” – Swanage School, Head of Science
“I have really enjoyed painting it, such a great project! We came over to see them last week and it was a great trail, I loved seeing them all up!” – Arts University Bournemouth
A few comments from the public:
“I painted one of the cows and now I want to go find it in the dunes!” - Lots of local children taking their families to go find their cow and complete the arty cow challenge.
“We saw your Facebook post and followed the map to find all the ten cows, your tip helped us find the most hidden one and when we did a group of deer went past” – Lots of people said that they read about this in the local newsletters or online.
“We live locally but we’ve never explored these areas of the sand dunes before, they’re beautiful!” – lots of people loved how the arty cow challenge did not take them on the typical routes, instead it took them deep into the dunes and it was this exploration that everyone loved.
“We found all ten and it was the perfect afternoon activity, the perfect distance and level of difficulty” – a family of three sons of all different ages.
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