As a charity, we are responsible for the care of 20 islands on Strangford Lough – 12 of which are grazed for most, or some, of the year.
Last week, rangers from the National Trust Strangford team assisted local tenant farmers Frankie and Kevin McCullough to remove 150 grazing hoggets (young sheep) from Salt Island, for transport to the slopes of Slieve Croob, County Down.
The important role of conservation grazing
The National Trust has been operating a livestock barge, or cot, on the Lough since 2000 – firstly, the Penelope (until 2012), and then the Cuan Brig (from 2014). The vessel has allowed for the continued farming of the islands of the Lough. Without it, there would have been land abandonment and the afforestation of the islands, either through planned planting or natural succession.