Drovers Agreement: Cragend

Cragend was the first site to be grazed under the Drovers Project, and was grazed in both 2003 and 2004.

Profile

The site is approximately 53ha in size and is part of the National Trust-owned farm of Hotbank. Cragend is part of the Roman Wall Loughs Site of Special Scientific Interest adjacent to the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, is part of a Countryside Stewardship Agreement and is a candidate Special Area for Conservation under the European Habitats Directive (part of Natura 2000), as well as being traversed by the Pennine Way. The site therefore has complicated implications for management.  Cragend is diverse in terms of habitats, incorporating an area of valley mire as well as molinia and bracken dominated areas.

Objectives:

The primary objective for grazing Cragend was to reduce the cover of rank grasses such as purple moor grass (molinia caerulea). Secondary objectives included improvement of the heather structure and increased species diversity within the sward and a reduction in molinia. Another objective for the site was to reduce the stands of bracken which were present at the eastern end of the site. These objectives were coupled with an aim to avoid excessive damage to the site from trampling, poaching and excess grazing of sensitive areas such as the mire.