King's and its cattle

King's is most famous for its buildings, but it also has a long tradition of tending animals and gardens. The Back Lawn once contained a kitchen garden, and sheep grazed the grass to keep it short. Scholar's Piece behind King's contained the college orchards and pasture for the Fellows' horses.

Today Rare Breed cattle graze on Scholar's Piece. They not only keep the grass short enough for a variety of grasses and flowers to flourish, but their dung provides a breeding place for insects, which in turn provide food for the birds.