THE HORSES' FIELD

History of The Horses’ Field

 The Horses’ Field originally comprised of four fields of arable
farmland with a small wood. Local knowledge suggests that
The Horses’ Field got its name as it was used for grazing
horses. In the 1930s the land was considered as a site for an
aerodrome and in 1940 the Leavesden Aerodrome was built,
opening in 1941.

The site closed in the mid 1990s and over time the land
became a film studio which is now Warner Bros. Studio Tours,
Leavesden.

This striking green space came into the ownership of Three
Rivers District Council in 2011. It was part of the development
for the former Aerodrome site, which included new housing,
play areas, community amenities and commercial properties.
The Horses’ Field is a valued wildlife site which forms part of
the Leavesden Country Park Management Plan.

During the summer months, a small number of cattle graze the
field. This grazing helps the wildlife to flourish and prevents
shrubs and brambles from taking over.

The cows have arrived

A herd of cattle has arrived in Leavesden County Park as part of an initiative to utilise grazing to naturally maintain the meadow grass.

The herd of Red Devon Cattle will help sustain a diverse grassland habitat through their natural activity - benefitting a wide variety of plants, animals, and birds under a plan known as conservation grazing.

Red Devon Cattle are descendants of ancient cattle breeds from the Southwest of England. Known for their ruby red coat (sometimes leading to the name of Devon Ruby or Red Ruby), the breed are remarkably resilient, with a hardiness and ability to thrive on rough foliage making them an excellent choice for conservation grazing. The herd - made up of 14 cows which are 18 months old - are a British heritage breed from Devon and are known for their docile, good nature and it is hoped they will swiftly settle into their new surroundings.

The conservation grazing taking place throughout the district is carefully monitored to prevent over grazing, under grazing, poaching of the ground and to protect more sensitive plants where necessary. 

Dog walkers are still welcome to use the footpaths across the Horses’ Fields, but all visitors are encouraged to abide by the Countryside Code. To protect dogs, the cattle and ground nesting birds, the council asks that they are kept on a lead when entering the enclosed area during the summer months. There is also a cattle free route around the edge of the field.

The cattle are regularly checked by their farmer. However, if you see anything that you feel needs reporting, please contact 01923 776611.
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