You can sign up to receive weekly updates to your email inbox here. Stockwatch is also published in the Malvern Gazette every Friday.
Stockwatch provides information on the locations of livestock for the Malvern Hills Trust's projects where temporary electric-fenced compartments are erected. Temporary fencing is erected under section 15 of the Malvern Hills Act 1995.
As most of our land is Common Land, commoners do graze livestock freely across the Hills and Commons and members of the public should therefore be ready to encounter livestock anywhere and at anytime. The locations of these livestock are not included in Stockwatch.
Please remember that dogs must be kept under close control at all times. Unless you are certain you can recall your dog immediately, whatever the circumstances, please keep your dog on a lead at all times.
Sheep killed by dog (December)
On the morning of Saturday 10th December a sheep was found dead in a stream at Happy Valley. The sheep had been chased out of the grazing compartment on North and Table Hill down the hillside and killed by a dog.
Due to the severity of the injuries, it is likely that the dog was away from the owner for a significant period and would have been 'missed' by the owners. We urge anyone who knows anything about this incident which happened the evening of Friday 9th / early morning of Saturday 10th December near Happy Valley / North Hill to please contact the Trust with further information (01684 892002 or info@malvernhills.org.uk).
Please keep your dog on a lead when walking within the livestock compartments and anywhere near them. If you cannot be 100% certain that your dog will immediately return to you when called, whatever the circumstances, keep your dog on a lead at all times.
Your dog may not have shown any interest in livestock but that does not mean that it is safe to have your pet to be off the lead around livestock.
This incident is preceded by a shocking number of incidents involving dogs chasing and attacking livestock on the Malvern Hills and Commons. Over the last 6 months, the following events have been reported:
11th December - sheep chased on North Hill
10th December - sheep chased off North Hill and killed in Happy Valley
5th December - sheep chased on Pinnacle Hill
24th November - sheep chased and attacked in Lodge Field suffering bites to face and ears
10th November - sheep chased and attacked in Happy Valley. Bite injuries were so severe, the sheep was put down
20th September - sheep chased and killed near St Ann's Well
16th September - sheep found with bite marks on face on the Worcestershire Beacon
21st August - sheep chased onto the Wyche Road
19th August - sheep chased to Edith Walk, Great Malvern
2nd August - sheep chased out of compartment and onto the Wyche Road. Sheep was then struck by a car and died.
22nd July - sheep chased near St Ann's Well
22nd July - sheep found with bite marks near Earnslaw Quarry.
Commoner's Rights
Of the land we care for, 90% is registered Common Land. This means that local people have the traditional right to graze a set number of sheep or cattle on the Hills and Commons.
Although the numbers of active commoners who are turning out livestock has decreased, rights still exist and at any time people could choose to put livestock back on the Hills. This grazing would be outside of our grazing projects so would not be enclosed and therefore we are not able to provide information for visitors on their location through Stockwatch.
Please make sure that if you're visiting with your dog that you're prepared to meet livestock at any time. MHT are not responsible for any animals not within the Trust's grazing projects.
Find out more about Common Land - Foundation for Common Land
Livestock worrying - Stock count
We will be keeping a running tally of dog attacks on livestock throughout 2023 to highlight the frequency of these events on the Malvern Hills.
From the 1st January 2023
Number of chasing incidents - 8
Number of attacks on livestock - 3
Number of livestock deaths - 0
Dog attacks on sheep are distressing for everyone involved; the sheep, the dog, the grazier and the dog owner.
By following signage and putting your dog on a lead near livestock you can put an end to these incidents and remove the worry when walking your dog in this farmed landscape. All breeds of dog could chase sheep and even well-trained dogs can become fixated on livestock, so please put your dog on a lead near the cattle and sheep, and don't put your pet in that position.
Thank you.
From the 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022
Number of chasing incidents - 13
Number of attacks on livestock - 6
Number of livestock deaths - 6
Not all livestock worrying incidents are witnessed or reported to us so this tally is an underrepresentation of the actual number.
Updated 25th September 2023
Reporting an incident
Each and every year, we receive reports from the public and from the graziers that sheep and cattle have been chased and attacked by dogs. Livestock worrying is a criminal offence. To report livestock worrying by dogs, which includes chasing, on the Hills or Commons call the Police on 101. Please also call the office on 01684 892002 so we can alert the grazier to attend. The faster the animal can receive emergency veterinary treatment the better its chances of recovery.
