A Buckinghamshire village’s pioneering venture to restore their neglected common has been recognised with an award from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
On Saturday 1st. December, the Brill Village Community Herd (BVCH) - the UK's first and only community owned herd - received the prestigious CPRE mark for ‘protecting and enhancing the countryside’.
A seven strong herd of Dexter cows has grazed the Common in the picturesque village of Brill on the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire border for the past five years. In 2011 the BVCH was launched as a cooperative to secure a sustainable future for the Common by grazing.
Founding board member Patricia Stone said: 'For twenty years the ancient common of Brill had been neglected and become overgrown with rank grass, brambles and scrub. A lot of people in the village felt that something should be done.
The Dexters are perfect cows for conservation grazing as they are small and a traditional breed, hardy enough to live outdoors all year round. They have grown used to sharing the Common with villagers and visitors and have now become very much part of the character of the village.’
‘Now with 360 shareholder members this has become a truly marvellous example of what can be achieved when a community works together in a co-operative spirit for the common good’ added BVCH founding chairman David Dilly. ‘The herd’s daily needs are met by teams of village volunteers who monitor the cow’s well-being and check their water whilst another team of fence movers reposition the fencing as and when required.’
Fore information about Brill Community Herd see out section 'Stories from your Common'.
