Visitors to Braunton Burrows recently may have noticed that the cows are sporting new collars. The new neck accessories are state-of-the-art GPS collars and will play a role not just in the future of cattle management on the Burrows, but also how the site works in terms of natural land management.  

The collars have been jointly funded by the Christie Estate, which owns the Burrows, and the North Devon Coast National Landscape Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme (FiPL). 

New Burrrow’s grazier, Nick Kennard, brings all his experience of working with his family’s Woolacombe based herd, which has been fitted with GPS collars since 2021.Over the coming months, the Burrows Facebook page will follow the journey as Nick and his team train the cows.  

For now, the cows are just getting used to having the collars on, with the ‘no fence boundary mirroring the existing fence line. During this time it is important that the cows are not disturbed by walkers and dogs, especially as the Burrows herd will be calving through April and May.  

There are no plans to remove existing Burrows fencing, but there are several benefits of using GPS collars within the 1000 hectare site. The new collars will allow better monitoring of cow movements, which is a plus for keeping an eye on their wellbeing.  

It means grazing areas within the zones can be better targeted to keep scrub down. Once trained, it will also be possible to keep the cattle from snacking on patches of wildflowers, such as orchids, that the Burrows is famous for.  

FiPL is a programme of funding from DEFRA which is distributed by the National Landscape Team. The programme aims to help farmers manage protected landscapes, support rural economies, and protect the environment for future generations. 

Joe Newberry, National Landscapes Officer said: 

 “The FiPL grant programme is a great opportunity for landowners and farmers within the National Landscape to work creatively to improve their land for nature, mitigate the impacts of climate change, or help people to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and cultural heritage in the area. The programme is currently open for applications and we would love to hear from those we haven’t yet worked with”.  

For more information about North Devon programme FiPL, visit our website  www.northdevoncoast-nl.org.uk/farming-protected-landscapes or email joe.newberry@devon.gov.uk