A council have come up with a novel idea to keep the grass cut at a nature reserve.

Instead of using lawnmowers, North Herts District Council (NHDC) and the Countyside Management Service (CMS) will be using lawn moo-ers at the nature reserve on Weston Hills in Baldock.

Four longhorn cows, named Bronte, Karinna, Jasmine and Jezebel, have been introduced to the area to help maintain the site and its natural diversity.

The cows will help control grass and low shrubs, and their grazing will encourage a wide variety of specialised plants to thrive, rather than allowing one to dominate.

Cllr Peter Burt, NHDC’s portfolio holder for environment, said: “It is very pleasing to see natural grazing restored to this important site, which we have worked with the CMS to improve in recent years.

“There are practical benefits too, as some of the important grassland areas are on steep slopes where access for machinery is very difficult.

“It’s proof the old methods can still sometimes be the best.”