CATTLE will graze small paddocks near Neidpath Castle from next week to help boost biodiversity.

The Tweed Meadows Project initiative hopes to restore lost hay meadow habitat across the Borders, and reintroduce mowing and grazing management regimes to create biodiverse habitat for wildflowers, insects and birds.

Peebles residents have been urged to help the project, promoted by Merlindale Nature, by keeping dogs on a short lead.

A spokesperson from Peebles Community Council said: “Signs will be in place and the cattle will be grazing with no fence collars but within a visual fence boundary.”

Last November, the Merlindale Nature project was granted £140,416 from a Scottish Government nature fund to restore flower-rich meadow habitat across 19 sites in the Borders.

Tweed Meadows plans to make land-management changes which will tackle biodiversity loss and help to halt the decline of pollinators by reducing habitat loss and increasing food sources.

Alexander Lintott, writing on the Tweed Meadows blog, said: “February has been a busy month for the Tweed Meadows Project with swift and steady progress made; we have now seeded and harrowed Mellerstain, Faldonside, Forest Lodge, Kingsmeadows, and Longnewton.

“This is thanks to the amazing efforts of Apithanny and Billy from Finger Post Farms with his Clydesdale horses.”

Last month, Merlindale Nature directors John Mclennan and David Lintott travelled to Northumberland and collected 632.8 kilograms of wildflower seed.

Project manager Apithanny Borne will deliver the seed to each of Tweed Meadows’ sites so that it can be dispersed in time to receive a frosting before the end of winter.

When the NRF grant was made, biodiversity minister Lorna Slater said: “I’m delighted that our Nature Restoration Fund is supporting this diverse range of projects that showcase the wide-ranging benefits of nature restoration, for people and communities.

“From providing flood prevention and improving access to greenspace, as well as helping biodiversity and climate.

“Our ambitious biodiversity strategy sets out our goal to be nature positive – halting biodiversity loss by 2030 and reversing declines by 2045."