Historic herd of wild cattle back on show at Northumberland park

Chillingham Wild Cattle Association (CWCA) has reopened the park with tours being led by wardens Ellie Waddington and Denene Crossley.

Numbers are limited and pre-booking is essential to comply with coronavirus-related guidelines.

After 15 weeks of the gates being shut and footfall and incoming revenue non-existent, Angus Collingwood-Cameron, CWCA’s park manager, said: “We are delighted to be finally opening up and welcoming our first visitors.

“You can be confident that we have done all we can to minimise risk and proof of this is that we were one of the first visitor attractions to be awarded the Visit Britain quality kitemark ‘We’re Good to Go’.

“This demonstrates that we have put great thought and care into protecting your safety and wellbeing and of course, as an outdoors attraction, we are able to easily maintain social distancing.

“However, we have made some changes. All tours must be booked via the website with numbers limited to 12 per group.

“Visitors will travel in convoy in their own vehicles along a hard track to the start of the walking tour where they will be led into the park by the wardens.

“We are very much looking forward to at last seeing you this summer so please book your tour as soon as possible. You will have a fabulous experience.”

During the tours, visitors will hear about the history of the cattle park, the family who have nurtured the beasts and the continuing involvement that the wild cattle have within environmental and scientific studies.

The Chillingham Wild White Cattle are unique and internationally renowned. Living in their very own almost untouched medieval park, these cattle are genetically very special, thanks to their long isolation. Living and behaving as wild animals, they receive no human intervention other than with winter feeding.

The wild cattle tours run to November 1, seven days a week at 10am, 11.30am, 1.45pm and 3.15pm. They must be pre-booked at www.chillinghamwildcattle.com

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