Rare Cows Introduced to Historic Estate as Part of Rewilding Project

The Castle Howard Estate in North Yorkshire has welcomed a rare breed of cattle as part of its rewilding project. The White Park cows are one of the most ancient species of their kind and will play a crucial role in creating a more varied habitat structure through their grazing in the newly-sown meadows.

## Introduction to Rewilding The introduction of the White Park cows is the latest phase of the Bog Hall rewilding scheme, which aims to restore and rewild 440 acres of agricultural land into a thriving space for nature. The project is being delivered in partnership with nature restoration company Environment Bank and has been ongoing since 2024.

The estate has installed approximately three miles of fencing ahead of the cows' release, as well as badger tunnels and otter passes to maintain safe routes for wildlife. Conservation volunteers have also been preparing the site by creating ponds and planting willow. The head of natural environment, Guy Thallon, expressed his excitement about the project, stating that reintroducing animals has been inspiring for the whole team and beyond.

## Project Details The Bog Hall Habitat Bank project is located within the Howardian Hills National Landscape and part of the area is designated as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. The project involves restoring meadows, creating scrub banks to protect saplings, and installing ponds and leaky dams to hold more water across the site. The White Park cows were chosen for the project because they are suited to outdoor conservation grazing, including in wetter grassland habitats.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust has priority-listed the White Park cows, describing them as likely the most ancient native cattle in the British Isles. The cows will live outside all year round and are expected to have a positive impact on the environment. The project also involves engaging with the local community, with children from nearby primary schools designing signage for the fencing around the area featuring animals they would like to see in the project in the future.

## Community Involvement Fraser Rutherford, head of marketing at Environment Bank, highlighted the importance of community involvement in the project, stating that it provides a rare opportunity for pupils to follow nature restoration throughout their school years and see firsthand how native wildlife returns to a landscape. The project is expected to continue for 30 years, with further plans to release beavers in the autumn.