IT was a landmark day for a new community farm as the first of their beef cattle herd arrived.

Three beef shorthorn are now settled into their new home at Stirley Community Farm, in Newsome, below Castle Hill.

And the trio will be joined by a dozen more cows by the end of November.

Stirley Community Farm is a new project from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. A derelict dairy farm south west of Huddersfield is being transformed into a working community farm connecting people, food and wildlife.

The community farm project has funding from the Big Lottery’s Local Food grants but when the money runs out in 2014 it is hoped money will be made from beef sales.

Farm manager Ian Smart said: “It’s great that we’ve got the first three cows – it’s nice to have livestock on the farm again – it has been about eight or nine years since there was cattle here.

“They have settled in well and they are happily chewing the cud out there.

“The cattle will become the mainstay of the farm and grazing is a key element of habitat management.

“It will be good for the local environment and local eco system – the grazing will encourage invertebrates which in turn will encourage the birds.”

As well as providing a source of revenue, the cattle will restore the pastures to species-rich grassland through a conservation grazing programme.

Shorthorns are medium-sized cattle which vary in colour from red to white. They are a breed known for their strength and good temperament.

The herd will be grazing in the fields for as long as the weather allows then they will move into the converted barn for the winter.

The arrival of the cattle will not affect any of the public footpaths running through the site but farm staff ask walkers to respect the countryside code and be sure to shut gates and keep dogs under control.