Meadows update
At
the Public Meeting held in Petersham Village Hall on Tuesday 29th May
representatives of the National Trust, Richmond Council, Councillor Sir David Williams,
and Graham Ball (chair of The Petersham Environment Trust) met to answer
questions relating to the electric fence but no agreement with the National Trust
was reached, writes Sylvia Peile.
The
Back Story: You will recall that the Petersham Trust, having restored the
meadows and farm buildings, replaced fences and built a new barn, handed over
the management of Petersham Meadows to the National Trust with a large
endowment in 2010. Residents of Ham and Petersham gave generously to the
endowment and attended fund raising events to reach this fantastic target. It
was the intention of the late Chris Brasher, who started the Petersham Trust,
to protect the meadows for future generations , by placing the meadows in the
care of the National Trust, ensuring public access and permit cows to graze freely
for the majority of the year.
In
2011 a dog attacked some of the cows. This was a most unfortunate accident and
for some time afterwards the cows were understandably edgy. The National Trust
had originally considered removing the cows but were persuaded by local people
not to do so. However, since then the National Trust have insisted that the
cows must be separated from the public by an electric fence. Their interpretation
of their own Health and Safety Guidelines do not permit free grazing.
There
is no history of cows chasing people, and then only very rarely by dogs when
harassed. The Council, as freeholder, have made it clear that they would like
to see free grazing returned. There have been two public meetings where
residents wanted, overwhelmingly, a free grazing regime restored.
It
was therefore considered sensible to ban dogs from the meadows and this is
having some success but there is conflicting information to owners who can walk
along the public footpath with dogs on a lead to cross the meadow but are
otherwise banned from the meadow.
Because
of the electric fence the cattle are unable to use all the meadows so there is
less grazing and there is no suitable shelter. The result is they spend more
time in the barn. The herdsman has more work keeping the barn clean and there
is additional expense with the cost of straw.
Our
Councillors are working to arrange a meeting with Richmond Council (the
freeholder of the meadows), Hugh Brasher to represent that substantial Brasher
family interest, and Graham Ball (Chair of the Petersham Environment Trust),
who will in turn meet with the National Trust. It is essential to find a
solution to this gridlock and to keep cattle grazing on the meadows without a
fence.
Four tractors and equipement work the meadows on a Sunday morning in August
