After a number of false starts (see articles of 21/1/14, 7/3/14 & 3/7/14) the cattle grazing in Subury Park will start on 3rd September with a two month trial.
We are not certain how the trial will be monitored nor how it will be judged to have been a success or failure.
The Friends of Sunbury Park (FoSP) have been closely involved in this project from its inception and will doubtless publicise the results in due course.
Thursday, 10 September 2015 13:24
posted by Chritine Way
I used to use the park every day I enjoyed the company and my dog also had fun with other dogs now it is impossible its just not safe if a cow kicks out small dogs have no chance and as for the cow pats well that is just discusting we pick up after our dogs but who cleans up after the cows.When the gates where put back on their was an incident with a parent who had a pram and couldn't get into the park also their are alot of elderly people some on mobility scooters who are now denied access to the park this could be called discrimination and is against the law.
I think the council has destroyed a very friendly and happy community as everyone that used the park enjoyed the company and the open free space
Thursday, 10 September 2015 07:56
posted by Sam
As a mum of two youngsters the park is now unusable. We use this park to walk through to reach my 3 year old daughter's nursery. The gate that leads to Hawkewood Road is virtually unusable now as the have placed them at the bottom of a step ramp - how the expect a wheelchair user to be able to access from here I've no idea. I complained about it months ago as my daughter hurt her hand sitting in the pushchair by the swinging gate and the gates were removed. Now they've replaced them without rethinking the safest place to situate them for accessibility.
There are LOTS of cow pats on the paths. Before I could tell my daughter to keep to the paths to avoid any unsavourary contact. Now this is impossible.
So before attacking just the dog owners (many who are responsible and pick up after their pets) think of the other users of the park and the impact it has on them.
There is also video footage of two young men encouraging their dogs to attack the cows in broad daylight on Saturday 5th. Can you imagine what idiots are going to do at night to them?
Tuesday, 08 September 2015 16:47
posted by Johnny Smith
Bovine waste isn't repellent, I would have sympathy if it was equine or porcine but I struggle to gauge how cow-pats would cause such a nauseous reaction. If dog owners can't prevent their pets from rolling in the waste maybe the issue is to keep them on a lead. I see many dogs rolling is canine faeces & we don't see to be arguing for the banning of dogs from public parks due to this occurence.
Its still the same semi-rural park with the trial affording a nod to its historical past, linking this as some porthole to some future housing development is barmy!
Tuesday, 08 September 2015 14:03
posted by alan
On my daily visits I have counted 6 cows. Whether the cow waste is hazerdous to health is a another matter, it stinks and is impossible to shift from dog coats or clothes. I prefer to look at this from an overall perspective, including what's good for the park visitors and the cows welfare. Is one water container suffient for 6 cows? Is allowing cow grazing on land that has been for as long as I can remember been an open space for all to enjoy, another way to start the process of building yet more houses!! Think carefully.
Tuesday, 08 September 2015 09:43
posted by Johnny Smith
I don't believe 3 cows could create such a tsunami of bio-waste that it would impede the enjoyment of the park. Petersham Meadow has 14/16 Galloways & a tarmac path running across the field which is well used by walkers & doesn't create a bio-hazard. Bovine waste is also generated by a 'natural' diet, left to desicate it constitutes no public danger to health. Canine waste as we all know through experience is a far greater inconvenience & real danger to public health.
It's a trial with 3 cows, let's not be prejudicial to the trial period with mis-representations of the effect its having in the park with users.
Tuesday, 08 September 2015 07:23
posted by Alan
The park is now full of cowpats, including across the paths. This means all visitors to the park (people with pushchairs and wakers) are subjected to the inconvinience it brings. I've seen a very sucessfull trial in Rickmansworth, The difference being the cows were penned in. Everyone then had the chance to see the cows without the cowpats across the paths. Most dog owners clear up after their dogs. It would take a farmer working 24/7 to cope with this lot.
Monday, 07 September 2015 17:52
posted by Lynne Kingston
Went to the park on Sunday only to see children chasing the cows, who panicked. If a child had been in their path it would have caused an accident. It will only be a question of time before someone decides it would be fun to let one loose. All very well saying you can see a cow pat but several people were very cross about treading in them and it had only been a couple of days since the cows arrived. Most dog walkers who use the park clear up responsibly. Cows don't!
Monday, 07 September 2015 16:36
posted by Johnny Smith
Petersham Meadow has about 16 Belted Galloways residing on it, that's pretty urban & I haven't had any issues with bovine waste impeding my path. I have on the other hand had numerous incidents with canine faecal matter in both urban & rural landscapes. Cows will not jump up at you & stain your clothing with mud with only a limp 'sorry' from their owner casually swinging their lead behind them.
What is it with dog owners letting their pets urinate/scent indiscriminately aswell?
Saturday, 05 September 2015 19:50
posted by Carol
I agree whole-heartedly with you, Vivien.
Saturday, 05 September 2015 10:52
posted by vivien
I saw 3 cows going into the park yesterday, it was lovely to see them, they wandered off into the trees, and were calm and docile. As for the mess, what about dogs? Their owners do not always clear up! At least a cow pat is easy to see and avoid. I hope this trial is a success; It is good to see some 'country' in Sunbury which is becoming increasingly urban.
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