Dexter, Longhorn and White Park cattle could be brought to Halton for nature reserve near Mersey Gateway

Jun 4 2009 by Oliver Clay, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

SPECIAL breeds of hardy cattle could be deployed as part of plans to create a nature reserve around the foot of the Mersey Gateway (MG) bridge.

Paul Oldfield, MG project nature conservation officer, revealed at the public inquiry that planners wanted to bring cattle such as dexter, longhorn or white park to Halton.

The 28.5 hectare reserve would run 200 metres either side of the proposed bridge with habitats in Wigg Island, Runcorn and Widnes.

Public viewing points would be from existing visitor spots on Spike Island and Wigg Island.

Work on the reserve would include restoring saltmarsh, creating saltmarsh scrapes and pools near the new bridge, and improving bird populations.

‘Conservation cattle’ would graze by the river to turn vegetation into a wider range of plants, and the saltmarsh area would be fenced off.

Paul Oldfield, Nature Conservation Officer with the Mersey Gateway Project Team, said: “This will be a unique haven for birds and other wildlife and will help to ensure that the new bridge brings major environmental benefits to the area.

“The proposed new Environmental Trust will also ensure that the new nature reserve will link in with wider long-term nature conservation activities across the Mersey Estuary.”

Cllr Phil Harris, Halton Council’s executive member for environment, added: “The proposed nature reserve will be a welcome addition here in Halton.

“The fact that this project gives us an opportunity to develop a new nature reserve covering saltmarsh on both sides of the river is great news, and I welcome this announcement.”