Staffordshire Moorlands District Council

RESIDENTS formerly opposed to a fenced grazing trial on a protected heath have now thrown their weight behind the plans.

The scheme was hatched by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which have a legal duty to protect Wetley Moor, near Werrington, as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The proposals were based on advice by conservationists including Government body Natural England. They said that grazing was essential to stop scrub and woodland growing and to keep grass in check.

Residents opposed the plans at first, forming a Wetley Moor Action Group to fight the scheme. But progress was made when Wetley Moor Joint Committee, run by the two councils, invited neighbours to consider the site's conservation needs for themselves.

The result was the formation of a new group, The Friends of Wetley Moor, which developed compromise proposals that limited the scale of the grazing trial.

And at its meeting on Thursday, November 6, the committee accepted the group's plans.

If approved by the Government, the trial will run for five years and will compare the effectiveness of grazing, controlled burning or mowing and the removal of vegetation as methods to protect the site's wildlife value.

Grazing will take place each year between April and September across a seven-hectare area. The trial area will be fenced temporarily each year, and kissing gates installed to give visitors access to the grazed area at all times.

The number of cattle will be low, possibly as few as three.

What is more, there will be a survey to find out how people feel about the measures, in particular the use of grazing cattle.

The proposed fencing must have Government permission. But before an application is made, the Friends of Wetley Moor and the joint committee want people to have their say on the plans. Therefore, the proposals will be available until Friday, December 19 at Werrington Library and at Cheadle and Leek Councils Connect.

Responses must be received by Monday, January 5 next year.

Said Cllr Mark Deaville, portfolio holder for leisure, sport and culture: "It's great that residents and the two councils have been working together with a common ambition to protect this rare lowland heath as a precious wildlife habitat. But it's important that people now respond to the consultation so that we can be sure that we have strong public support before we submit our fencing application to the Secretary of State".

Comments should be addressed to Parks and Countryside Service, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Moorlands House, Leek, ST13 6HQ. Alternatively, an e-mail can be sent to countryside@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk.