Petersham cows not moo-ving back in, as fence proves divisive

Richmond& Twickenham Times 8th February 2013

Cows will not return to Petersham Meadows later this year, despite the National Trust being paid more than £500,000 to keep them there. 

£1000's spent on electric fence and signs

The move comes after a long battle between the National Trust, Richmond Council, dog walkers and farmer Ian Brown, who looks after the cows that graze on the meadow.

The National Trust was paid a £500,000 endowment to keep the cows on the meadows but, following a dog attack on a cow in May 2011, the National Trust put a fence that proved unpopular.

 

Poor state of the Meadow in November 2012

Dogs are currently banned from the meadows but are allowed on leads on the paths.

GeriSilverstone, of the National Trust, said: “Unless we can come up with some sort of erection on the meadow we are not going to be able to break the status quo. “Until we can get a decision on this it is not safe for us to put the cows on the meadow.”

Weeds cut and left out of sight

The National Trust said it was disappointed the council rejected proposals to put a fence along the side of the meadow.

But ward councillor for Petersham Sir David Williams said the fence proposed by the National Trust would breach the 1902 Act, which protects the view from Richmond Hill - the only view in England to be protected by an act of Parliament.

He said: “The National Trust was making unreasonable demands and is using that as an excuse not to put the cattle back.

“For a national charity that is supposed to be looking after English heritage, it acts like a nasty property company that puts out PR spin if it doesn’t get its way.”

Local residents express their feelings

Last year, Richmond Council put forward a dog control order banning them from the meadow between April and November, which it was hoped would solve the problem.

The Regulatory Committee, which will decide if there should be a dog control order on the meadows, will take place next week on February 13.

Petersham Meadows Annual Report 2012

- with highlights from National Trust Annual Reports

Membership & visitor numbers

The wet summer of 2007 impacted on many UK visitor attractions and caused a knock-on effect on domestic holiday booking the following year. The economic downturn in late 2008 saw a reversal of this trend with the new financial environment having a positive effect on visitor numbers. The weakness of the pound attracted more overseas visitors while domestic concerns gave rise to the ‘Staycation’. Visits to historic houses were further boosted by the ‘Downton Effect’, following the runaway success of Downton Abbey, and the Royal Wedding in 2011.

Between 2008/9 and 2011/12 National Trust membership rose 8% whereas English Heritage membership increased 67%. Visitor numbers also increased at National Trust properties seeing a 31% rise. This was in line with other visitor attractions like Chatsworth House also up 31% in the same period but well below places like Blenheim Palace up 53%.

‘Everything we do is underpinned by a sound financial footing and we met our financial targets’

National Trust 2011/12 Annual Report

Property operating costs up 38%. Defined benefit pension scheme liability up 109%

Source: National Trust Annual Reports 2008/9 – 2011/12

Staff numbers and costs 

Average number of regular employees up 7% with staff costs up 13%

The numbers of full-time/regular employees whose pay including redundancy and taxable benefits, which fell between the range £60,000 – £220,000, was up 71% with cost up 57%

Source: National Trust Annual Reports 2008/9 – 2011/12

Health & safety and operational risk management

Conservation, access and the visitor experience can be compromised by adopting an approach to health and safety that is too risk-averse. We have adopted a sensible, pragmatic and proportionate approach that balances risks and benefits. Our approach aims to avoid unnecessary restrictions on access and to ensure that we do not detract from people’s enjoyment and sense of freedom and adventure. In 2011, we are delighted to report a 13% reduction in the total number of accidents. However, we have noted an increase of 30% in the number of more serious accidents that needed to be reported to the enforcing authorities. This takes us back to levels equivalent to 2008 and 2009….

Source: National Trust Annual Report 2011/12

Petersham Meadows under National Trust Management

In their second season the National Trust significantly reduced both public access to our meadows and the area available for grazing.  This disfigured the view from Richmond Hill, increased the level of weeds and generated danger zones where object could lay undetected by herdsman or volunteers.

The temporary electric fence was in place for the whole season, the pregnant cows and calves were under their normal weight when they left in November and the herdsman struggled on reduced hours to complete the extra work created by ‘rotating the grazing’.

The damaged milking parlour roof remained exposed to the record breaking summer rain throughout the season. The second public meeting produced only one new outcome; the External Affairs Consultant for the National Trust London and the Southeast set-up a blog to keep locals up-to-date on plans for the Meadows. Since the public meeting no entries have been made on the blog.

The National Trust has conducted a grassland survey, a biodiversity survey, a buildings survey and an archaeological survey of Petersham Meadows. They also conducted an unproductive PR exercise to pacify local objections to their management. Thoughts of recording an oral history were likewise proposed by their out-of-touch local manager. For the first time in living memory large agricultural equipment was used on the Meadows during the school summer holidays.

Membership of the National Trust and visitor numbers are up due to external conditions. NT finances need to be brought under control and serious accidents are just as frequent even under the new Operational Risk Team. The ‘Think Local’ strategy has produced some contradictory outcomes. For more than a decade Studland United Nudists have defended Studland from the machinations of the National Trust. In contrast one of the National Trust highlights of 2011/12 is the world-record for skinny dipping staged at Rhossili beach. The Petersham herd are considered too dangerous by the local National Trust manager. Just 65 miles away people and cows with calves mix without restriction in Winchelsea.

The majority of Petersham residents and the local council are very unhappy with the management of our Meadows and the low priority given to the welfare of the herd. The National Trust seems very pleased with their performance and think local people just don’t recognise the value of their contribution. It’s unfortunate that the National Trust don’t recognise the valuable contribution made by the people of Richmond, Petersham and Ham in preserving the heritage of the area.

Council Takes Action to Protect the Cows

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has started a consultation to have dogs banned on the Petersham Meadows. Visit the council website for full detail,

http://www.richmond.gov.uk/dogs_could_be_banned_on_petersham_meadows

Council Press Release

Dogs could be banned on Petersham Meadows, should there be no objections to a public consultation, it was agreed at last night’s Regulatory Committee.

Following an incident with a dog last year, it was agreed by residents, the National Trust and the Council that one of the improved safety measures would be that dogs would be banned from accessing the Meadows between April and November when the cows are grazing. To enable this to happen the Council must implement a Dog Exclusion Order. Although the National Trust manages the land through a lease arrangement, the Council, as the freeholder has the power to implement exclusion.

At the meeting last night Members agreed that whilst fencing is erected around the area to protect the cows from any dogs, a number of walkers are still unleashing their canines whilst out walking and they still have the potential to get into the area. In order to protect cattle from a further attack, the Committee agreed to take statutory action to ban dogs totally from the area. Those with a registered disability and use a dog for support e.g. guide dogs, are exempt from the ban.

The proposals will be now out for a 28 day official public consultation period. Following a review of all representations, the Council will decide whether or not to proceed.

Cllr Virginia Morris, Richmond Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said:

“The health and safety of both meadow users, dogs and the cows is of paramount importance. This decision from the Regulatory Committee supports our work to protect the wellbeing of all those in the area. Dog owners are important users of our parks and Richmond Council promotes and encourages responsible dog ownership. Most owners are conscientious; however, a small minority are not and this spoils the enjoyment of our open spaces and parks for others. We feel that the banning of dogs totally from the Meadow, during the cattle grazing season is the best option to encourage safety.”

Hungry calf November 2012

Cows and people currently share other National Trust land in both the London and the Southeast Region http://www.winchelsea.net/images/cattle.pdf and White Park Bay in Northern Ireland http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/white-park-bay/our-work/ Electric fences are not considered necessary in either of these other location and the former National Trust Regional Director for Northern Ireland is now Regional Director for London and the Southeast.