Motorists told to slow down as cows back on Cotswolds commons

Motorists are urged to slow down while travelling through Cotswolds ^[1] beauty spots this summer as cattle return to the commons. Cows are released onto Minchinhampton, Rodborough and Selsley commons during the summer months.

A 40mph speed limit is in place but there have been incidents in the past where a vehicle has struck and killed a cow ^[2]. This weekend the cows have been released onto the grasslands for this year.

The grazing herds play a vital part in maintaining and protecting the landscape and biodiversity of the commons. Combined, the commons constitute hundreds of acres of open space.

Traditionally May 13 is Marking Day when the cows are brought from the overwintering fields and sheds and released back onto the commons to roam and graze. The annual event sees each cow tagged – or marked – for identification before being released.

Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary ^[4] attended the National Trust’s Marking Day at The Old Lodge on Minchinhampton Common urging motorists to drive safely. Almost all of the cattle on two of the commons are hit by a vehicle at least once in their lifetime, according to residents.

Every year, many of the cows on Minchinhampton and Rodborough commons ^[5] are found to have been injured during the summer and have to be killed, they say. Philippa Schwartz is among the residents calling on Gloucestershire County Council ^[6] to allow traffic calming measures to be introduced on the roads that cut through the commons.

Last year she said: “Each year, when cows come off the common many have sustained injuries during the summer that mean they need to be euthanised. These cattle are not there for the convenience of the farmers, they are there to help keep the commons beautiful, without them it would return to scrub.”

References

^{^} Cotswolds (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} struck and killed a cow (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} National Trust deploys special cattle to Cotswolds to help tackle climate change (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Gloucestershire Constabulary (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} many of the cows on Minchinhampton and Rodborough commons (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Gloucestershire County Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)