Cattle grazing is carried out on most of the Millennium Green between May and October. Summer grazing by cattle is the traditional management of these flood plain meadows which still flood each winter and would be far too wet in the winter to continue grazing.

The meadows are part of the Suffolk River Valleys Environmentally Sensitive Area [ESA] and we receive grants from the Government for the continuation of the traditional management of the meadows. They come onto the meadows as young stock usually heifers that after a summer on our meadows join the beef herd at the home farm.

Problems with people using the Green are few although some people are nervous of being in the same field as cows. At the beginning of each season they start off being slightly skittish and inquisitive but soon settle down and ignore people completely. They are checked each day by the stockman.

The continuation of cattle grazing is crucial for the sustainable management of the Green so that problems such as Foot and Mouth and Blue Tongue all put pressure on the economics of cattle grazing. We must keep our fingers crossed that no more problems occur that could affect this key management activity on the Green.

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