Netherlands, Heather Fields South of Bussum, Jan. 2005

LarryBenedict, on February 18, 2007, said:

I've never seen a cow with such long hair. The horns are similar to the Texas long horned cattle.

senna3, on February 19, 2007, said:

These cows are Scottish Highlanders. We used to have sheeps on our heather fields to keep the heather short and to weed the grass between the heather plants. But there are not enough shepherds anymore in Holland, so we now use cows to keep the heather in condition. The scientific name of the type of heather you find in Holland is Calluna vulgaris and Erica tetralix. It only grows on sandy ground.

LarryBenedict, on February 20, 2007, said:

Thank you for all that information Peter. I find it very interesting. Is heather a plant that grows wild in Holland? Is it a 'weed' or a desirable plant?

senna3, on February 21, 2007, said:

Yes it grows wild in Holland and in fact in large parts of Europe. But there are also cultivated heather types whose flowers have all sorts of colours. These you find in the gardens and not on the heath fields.