Britain's first cowgirl to manage National Trust heathland

A woman hailed as Britain's first cowgirl has been recruited by the National Trust to help preserve an area of important heathland in Dorset.

Lisa Hawthornthwaite, 30, and her five-year-old Highland pony Ossie will manage a herd of Red Devon cows, which help protect Studland Heath, preventing it from becoming overgrown with trees, and losing its rare wildlife.

The mother of a six-year-old daughter, who has a strong background in livestock farming, will make sure the cows cover every patch of the heath, in all weathers. She will round up the animals at dusk and bring them home.



David Hodd, the Studland countryside manager for the National Trust, said: "The idea of cow herding where the herdsman stays with the animals all day has not been used in Britain for 200 years. Yet is a eco-friendly and economical approach to grazing that will help preserve our important heathland.

"Land Rovers are usually used for rounding up stock but they do not always go in the direction you want or at the speed of an animal. This way means that anywhere the cows can go on four legs, Lisa can follow on her horse."

Miss Hawthornthwaite, who will listen to her iPod while doing her work, was recruited from a list of 36 other applicants for the £16,000-a-year post. She plans to wear a riding hat rather than a stetson. She added: "It is pretty cool to be able to say that I'm the only cowgirl in Britain. It is certainly more exciting than a nine-to five desk job."

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