Kent Wildlife Trust is urging visitors to Hothfield Heathlands nature reserve to keep a safe distance from its highland cattle, following a surge in visitor numbers linked to viral social media content.
A recent TikTok video featuring the reserve's highland cows has led to a notable increase in people actively approaching and attempting to stroke the animals, behaviour that the Trust says poses a risk both to visitors and to the cattle themselves. The highland cows at Hothfield Heathlands are working livestock animals, not pets. They play an essential role as conservation grazers, helping to restore and manage the heathland ecosystem, and that work depends on them remaining calm and undisturbed.
Jessica Allam, Senior Wilder Grazing Ranger at Kent Wildlife Trust said: "We love that our highland cows have captured people's hearts online and seeing so many people coming out to enjoy Hothfield Heathlands, but we're asking people to remember that these are not pets - they are conservation grazers doing an important job. Getting too close causes them real distress and can put both the visitor and the animal at risk. Please don’t touch them and give them the space they need.”
Visiting safely
Kent Wildlife Trust asks all visitors to Hothfield Heathlands - and any reserve with grazing animals - to follow these guidelines:
- Always keep a minimum distance of 10 metres from all livestock.
- Do not attempt to touch, feed, or approach the animals.
- Keep dogs on a short lead and under close control throughout the reserve.
- If an animal approaches you, move away calmly without running.
Watch video with Kent Wildlife Trust's Wilder Grazing Lead Alison Ruyter showing to how to stay safe around livestock animals.