Potting shed Natural Monuments
In the middle of the Schaalsmeerpolder is Natuurmonumenten's potting shed. In winter and spring, this potting shed houses Natuurmonumenten's cows, mostly young cattle. Here, the cows stand on a ground cover of reeds.
All litter used in the potting shed comes from the Wormer- and Jisperveld and is mowed by Natuurmonumenten itself. This eliminates the need to use litter from abroad.
Once the top layer of bedding is contaminated by cow manure, a new layer of clean bedding is thrown on top. Repeating this process over time creates a metre-thick layer of rough stable litter. After the breeding season, as soon as the cows are allowed on the land, the stable is emptied. Natuurmonumenten uses this rough manure to fertilise the natural grasslands, which in turn is good for the herb-rich grasslands, soil life, insects and meadow birds.
Natuurmonumenten's cows are not only important for producing rough manure. In the field, the cows are also very important for the natural grasslands. With their manure, grazing and running back and forth across the grasslands, they make the grasslands even more varied.
