CATTLE could be brought back to a Kempsey common to preserve its character as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Ashmoor, on the southern side of Kempsey between the A38 and Kerswell Green, is common land that was used by local farmers for grazing their cattle.

But it has not been grazed for a number of years and the parish council, which owns the freehold, is responsible for managing it with the help of a grant from English Nature.

Now it has been suggested that instead of mowing it twice a year, the council should arrange for it to be grazed by about 15 cows.

"There has been a sea change in agriculture and if local farmers are not able to use their rights to graze the common, it will change its very nature," said parish council chairman Joy Clee.

"We realised that cutting it was not the answer, but we have to do some homework before we can go any further.

"We would have to persuade a farmer with cattle to turn this number on to the common for about six weeks a year, before the beginning of the growing season and at the end of the summer, to encourage specific plants.

"If the cattle have to be brought any distance, it probably wouldn't be viable for the farmer, but we might be able to use some of the management grant to help with transport costs.

"Then we might have to build a corral strong enough to take the cattle and get a local stockman to take care of them. It's quite a knotty problem."

The council's hams and commons sub committee is to investigate the possibilities and report back to the council.