THE famous cow herds will be returning to graze in Epping Forest this year though it is unlikely that they will stray as far as they used to

Before the BSE crisis, they could often be seen in the late summer munching happily in the streets and grassland of Wanstead, round the Whipps Cross roundabout or ambling across Wanstead Flats.

They held up traffic on a regular basis as they strolled along some of the borough's busiest roads, and they were regularly spotted feasting in gardens in residential streets.

The cattle were owned by commoners of Epping Forest who had the right to graze their cattle there during the summer months.

They were released mostly at the northern end of the forest and gradually made their way throughout the summer to the southern land, where they were rounded up in the autumn and returned to their owners.

The animals served a useful purpose, keeping the grass short, whittling down invasive shrubs and bushes and transferring seeds across the forest by eating them in one place and leaving them in their cowpats in another.

Six years ago, the BSE outbreak led to regulations that only animals under 30 months could be used as food. Since then, there have been no cattle in the forest.

The conservators of the forest have now decided to reintroduce the practice on a limited basis.

One grazier, Andrew Davies, will be releasing his small herd of longhorns this summer and two others including the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority hopes to do so in future years.

Peg Bitten of the Friends of Epping Forest explained: "The plan is for there to be a stockperson who will herd the animals during the day to encourage them to graze specific areas.

"Two permanent cattle pounds will be erected at Fairmead Bottom and Chingford Plain into which cattle will be driven at night."

In addition, a fence will be put up along one side of Epping New Road between Rangers Road and the Robin Hood roundabout to prevent the animals straying into the traffic.

As before, cattle will be taken off forest land during the winter.

Jeremy Wisenfeld, Epping Forest Superintendent, said: "The urbanisation of the late 19th century and early 20th century meant most of the surrounding farms disappeared as London grew. There are few neighbouring farms now and few cattle.

"The situation has been exacerbated in the last ten years, particularly as a result of the BSE crisis. In fact we have only got half a dozen grazing at the moment.

"It's imperative we keep grazing. Without it we would be diminished culturally and ecologically. The conservators put a lot of stock by grazing and somehow we must get it back."