Wicken Fen’s oldest Highland cow, celebrates 20 years of pioneering conservation grazing

While Speedwell’s birthday is a cause for celebration, her life tells a much bigger story about conservation. Highland cattle were introduced to Wicken Fen in 2005 as landscape engineers, carefully chosen for their hardiness, placid temperament and ability to thrive in wetlands. Their grazing influences the developing vegetation in the fen landscape, keeping it open so wetland and grassland plants can become established, rather than shaded out by thick woodland.

Alongside the reserve’s Koniks (small horses) — introduced in 2001 — the cattle roam freely across large areas of the expansive nature reserve. Together, they replicate the role once played by ancient wild herbivores such as the aurochs, the wild ancestors of modern cattle, whose skulls have previously been found on the Fen. This enables different subtle habitats to develop.

Alan Kell, Wicken Fen’s Countryside Manager, explains: “Without grazing animals, the open fenland would gradually become dominated by dense bushes and woodland. Instead, the cattle and ponies maintain a rich mosaic of open grassland, pools and reedbeds — creating ideal conditions for fen flowers, including beautiful orchids, a diversity of insects, like some nationally rare moth species found in few other places, and rare ground-nesting birds such as the bittern, crane and marsh harrier.

The grazing project forms part of the Wider Wicken Fen Vision, a 100-year conservation journey launched in 1999 to expand the reserve and restore fenland habitat on a landscape scale for wildlife and for people to enjoy.”

The longevity of Wicken’s livestock reflects the success of this approach. One Konik — Tim — previously lived to 32 and others currently in their late twenties share the same part of the Fen as Speedwell and Teasel. While multiple Wicken ponies have reached their twenties (although individuals not born on the Fen itself), Speedwell holds the record of the oldest Highland cow to ever live entirely on the nature reserve.

Speedwell and daughter Teasel graze on Verrall’s Fen, a peaceful and remote part of the reserve. Visitors may occasionally glimpse the cattle during one of Wicken Fen’s popular boat trips, which run regularly until the end of October (weather permitting).

Sally Redman-Davies, Visitor Experience Officer and boat operator, admits Speedwell has always been her favourite: “I look out for her on every trip,” says Sally. “Most days the cattle are somewhere out on the vast Fen and completely out of sight, so it’s always exciting when she happens to be near the water. She’s a magnificent animal and has become a bit of a legend.” Find more about Wicken Fen boat trips here.

While Wicken Fen staff may mark Speedwell’s milestone with a slice of cake, the birthday cow herself will be contentedly grazing on Fen flora, just as she has done for the past two decades. In doing so, she will continue shaping the landscape for generations of wildlife and people to come, a reminder of the quiet power of conservation grazing.