Lower Moor water for conservation grazing

Lower Moor river meadows is a site of local importance for birds, particularly wading birds on passage and wintering wildfowl. The meadows are managed partly as traditional hay meadows and partly as grazing pasture giving a diversity of grassland types. This benefits many insect species which in turn provide food for birds and small mammals. Grazing with cattle is essential to retain this patchwork of habitats. Providing mains water and drinking troughs will give us more flexibility when moving the cattle around the site; something that is becoming ever more important at this time of changing climate. Various birds breed on site including Skylark, Lapwing and Reed Bunting, all listed as birds of conservation concern by British Trust for Ornithology.