VANDALS who deliberately cut fencing at a Hart beauty spot are putting lives at risk, local authority rangers have said.

Cattle escaped from their grazing plot on Hazeley Heath, near Hartley Wintney, after the electric fencing was cut.

Luckily, Hart District Council’s countryside team, helped by volunteers, managed to lead the cattle safely back without any injury.

But the council warned that the outcome could have been very different.

Grazing trial ranger Lynda Bourchier said: “If cattle are released from the grazing plot the consequences could potentially be very serious.

“There is a risk they may get on to the fast B3011 road and cause serious human injury, as well as potentially fatal harm to themselves.

“That is why this incident is being treated extremely seriously by the team and has been reported to the police as criminal damage.”

Hart’s Countryside Service has made an appeal to all users of the heath to keep an eye out for anyone vandalising the electric fencing.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious should call the ranger service immediately on 01252 623443 or Hampshire police directly on 101.

Hazeley Heath is one of the largest surviving remnants of endangered lowland heath in north Hampshire.

Due to the rarity and importance of its heathland plant and animal communities it is designated by Natural England as a site of special scientific interest.

It is part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area due to its breeding population of the internationally protected Dartford warbler, woodlark and nightjar birds.

In 2007, after much public consultation, a management plan was produced for Hazeley Heath.

One of the proposals was that a cattle grazing trial should be set up to find out if it would be suitable in the future as a locally acceptable and sustainable approach to the management of the heathland.

Hart said grazing could have huge conservation benefits and it hopes that by putting cattle on the heath the desired mosaic of micro-habitats essential for maintaining the richness and diversity of the flora and fauna can be achieved.

The trial, which has received funding from Natural England and the SITA Trust Enriching Nature project, is running over a five-year period.

Temporary electric fencing was erected in April around two trial plots, one in the north in Mattingley parish and one in the south in Hartley Wintney parish.

The two small herds of local cattle, which started grazing from mid-May, will be removed from the heath in September.

Horse-friendly bridle gates have been installed at well-used pathways into the grazing plot to provide public access.