Meet the moowers!
Highland cattle are helping to keep Warkworth Dunes wild, open and full of life.
Highland cattle are helping to keep Warkworth Dunes wild, open and full of life.
09 Oct 2026
Northumberland Coast National Landscape team
Warkworth Dunes have some new, and rather hairy, residents this autumn and winter. A herd of Highland cattle has been introduced as part of ongoing conservation efforts to protect and enhance this special coastal landscape, helping to create the conditions needed for wildlife to thrive.
Conservation grazing plays a vital role in maintaining healthy dune systems. Without grazing animals, coarse grasses and scrub can quickly spread across the dunes, overwhelming smaller plants and reducing the variety of habitats available for wildlife.
The hardy Highland cattle are particularly well suited to the job. Using their strong tongues, they pull up tougher grasses and create a patchwork of bare sand, short grass, taller vegetation and open ground. This varied landscape provides ideal conditions for rare dune flowers, insects and other wildlife to flourish.
The grazing takes place during autumn and winter, after sensitive dune plants have flowered and once ground-nesting birds have finished their breeding season, ensuring the work supports wildlife throughout the year.
Visitors are still welcome to explore the dunes while the cattle are present. Highland cattle are known for their calm nature, and they are checked daily by rangers and volunteers, who also monitor their welfare and water supplies.
People using the dunes are encouraged to give the cattle plenty of space and keep dogs under close control. Those wishing to avoid the grazing areas can continue to use the main tracks, the dune ridge and the beach.
The grazing programme forms part of ongoing efforts to protect and enhance Warkworth Dunes, helping to ensure this special landscape can be enjoyed by both wildlife and people for generations to come.