More than 6,000 sign petition against plans to fence off Cannock Chase

Staffordshire County Council is planning to reintroduce grazing at Moors Gorse as part of its management of Cannock Chase Country Park, an area of heathland and wood pasture. Grazing with livestock was the traditional way the Chase was managed before the First World War, the authority has said, and up to six cattle are set to move onto a section of land near Rugeley.

There will be perimeter fencing installed around the pilot area. The council has said it does not cross any public footpaths or bridleways and wild deer will be able to get across the fences.

But an online petition against the fencing and grazing started by Rachael Stokes has received more than 6,000 signatures.

The petition stated: “Cannock Chase is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is used freely by thousands of visitors each and every year. Visitors are not only from the local area but nationally and internationally. Users include families with children, ramblers and walking groups, cyclists, runners, dog walkers and horse riders, who not only enjoy the benefits of the Chase but support local businesses and the local economy.

“Cannock Chase is particularly unique in the area due to the beautiful open landscape that is safely accessible by all, without restriction. All users have the benefit of the large area which allows them the freedom to safely enjoy their activity without encroaching on others.

“Any proposal to alter this access will have a significant and detrimental effect on the local community, residents, visitors and local economy.

“Allowing the free roaming of cattle within areas that will be used by families, children, horse riders, dogs and cyclists will put the safety of all at risk. Cattle are large and powerful animals who can take to flight easily and without warning.

“The proposals to fence off large areas of Cannock Chase has been undertaken without any proper, open and public consultation and without consideration of the detrimental impact upon the area and the risks to public safety. We request a full open and public consultation and the disclosure of all consultation meeting minutes, decision making reports, cost schedules, wildlife and natural beauty impact studies, local business impact studies and public safety impact studies.”

The campaign against the grazing scheme has raised concerns for local conservation groups that those signing the petition do not have the information they need to make an informed decision however.

Ann Elphick and Sue Kneill-Boxley, volunteers for local conservation groups Sustainability Matters and There Is No Planet B! Stafford, have put forward several questions about the grazing scheme to be answered by the county council in a bid to provide further details to residents.

The pair, who are independent from the county council, said: “Of course many will immediately come to the conclusion that it’s bad thing – who likes the thought of fences? People may have seen a group set up against the planned fencing and grazing, the posters over the Chase stating “Don’t Fence Us Out’ or the online petition claiming there will be restricted access.

“The problem with all this is that this campaign is lead with scary claims and no factual information to give context on why it is needed, it’s leading people to make an uninformed signing of the petition.

“Heavy footed grazers have always been a part of our ecosystem. When heavy footed grazers are removed, vegetation such as bracken becomes invasive.

“This leads to biodiversity break down and loss of important species. Reinstating grazers helps to rebuild lost chains and reduce our reliance on chemical spraying, which is bad for nature and humans alike. Unfortunately deer do not perform the same action.

“Cannock Chase has a huge problem with invasive vegetation. Go back only 15-20 years and people will remember that Cannock Chase was mostly covered in bracken and much of our open heathland was lost.

“We understand people’s gut feelings and worries, especially when there is misinformation out there, but it is so very important that people understand the whole picture before deciding where they stand on this. Let us give the council time to run their pilot before we stand against something that is actually great for nature, and consequently, good for us too.”

Councillor Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member responsible for Cannock Chase, said the authority had been publicly consulting on the proposals since 2016.

He added: “In 2017 we received more than 300 responses from individuals, user groups and parish councils and then developed the proposals in 2018 with a working party including a local users group, a parish council and sports and recreation bodies.

“We have been open about this throughout and will continue to be so, with further consultation at key stages.

“We are obliged by law to preserve Cannock Chase’s natural habitats and Natural England expects us to incorporate environmentally-friendly methods of controlling bracken, trees and scrub to manage the land and prevent it becoming overgrown.

“As part of that management plan next year we will graze up to six cattle in the south of the Chase as a pilot scheme to show people how it works. This grazing will range over a very small part of the Chase’s 1,300 hectares and all rights of way will be kept open.

“The Chase is identified at national and European level for its wildlife significance and we have a duty to protect and maintain its special features, as well as balancing its use for recreation and enjoyment.”