Could grazing, dog and traffic restrictions be brought in for Northam Burrows?

Reducing the number of animals grazing on Northam Burrows Country Park and banning dogs and traffic could be some of the measures to protect the special landscape into the future.

Torridge District Council is identifying ways to improve the area next to Westward Ho! beach, which is a site of special scientific interest and home to lots of rare plants and endangered insects.

The authority will need to meet certain criteria to enter a new ‘higher tier’ stewardship scheme when the present one ends in 2028 and it could mean making changes to deliver better environmental outcomes.

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A year-long feasibility study commissioned by the council on Northam Burrows concluded that it was being ‘overgrazed’ by sheep and horses, particularly in the sand dunes, leading to a decline in plant species, such as the rare water germander which can only be found at three sites in the country and wildlife.

The study recommends that grazing quotas be lowered during summer and winter months, some areas fenced off and cattle introduced as they graze in a different way, leaving vegetation higher. These are expected to find favour with Natural England.

Subsidies received through the new countryside stewardship scheme should be used to compensate graziers, a report to the council’s community and resources committee said.

The report also highlights the need for best practice to provide better conditions for insects like dung beetles, some species of which can only be found at Northam Burrows and suggests workshops could be held with local graziers.

Alongside this a sanctuary is proposed to protect Skern Bay which is a salt marsh at the mouth of the Taw and Torridge estuary at the east end of Northam Burrows.

During a consultation as part of the feasibility study concerns were raised about dogs disturbing birds, sheep worrying and aggressive behaviour towards other dogs.

The report considers excluding dogs from Skern Bay as well as a dogs on lead restriction across the east side of the Burrows, which would be subject to a separate dog control order and suggests that Embankment Road should be traffic free.

Lead ranger for Northam Burrows Mike Day said there was still a lot of research to be carried out before they were able to identify if these ideas were feasible. Natural England would be able to provide funding for this, subject to an application being made.

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The recommendation given by the consultant who carried out the study was to reduce the sheep numbers from 360 to 300 in the summer with a maximum number of 508 in the winter. Horse numbers would reduce from 32 to 26.

Mr Day said this would not represent a ‘massive change’ as in the past the site was ‘much more heavily grazed’.

He said there had not been much objection from the graziers so far.

Councillor Jane Whittaker for Northam said there were some ‘real opportunities for some really good changes’.

But Cllr Bob Hicks, who said his business had made hundreds of applications for environmental stewardship schemes over the last two or three years, said: “Welcome to the madhouse.

“We are dealing with many stupid regulations, rules, ideas, thoughts and this, in many respects, encapsulates them.

“I can remember when Devon Community Council reduced the limit for the number sheep on the Burrows before Torridge took over from 2,000 to 1,300 because of overgrazing, now we are talking about overgrazing at 300, so these sheep must be eating a hell of a lot more these days?”

He also said there was not much grass on the Burrows so any cattle put there would lose weight and farmers would not want that as the animals would devalue.

“The farmer will need compensation for the drop in condition of these cattle,” he said, adding that graziers had been ignored in the past.

Committee members agreed to carry on with research to identify ways of improving the condition of the site ahead of making an application to the government for the new stewardship scheme.