Nub News goes UP CLOSE with, Aimee, Stacy, Sonya, Candice, Selma and Joceleyne, AKA the Hairy Coos at Alton Water.

No it is not a Scottish girl band who have burst onto the pop scene, but these girls who are on tour from Taverham Mill, are proving as popular as any group.

If you like your ladies long-haired and horny then the Hairy Coos, which is how they are known in their native Scotland, are the lasses for you.

Sadly, the Taverham Six, will be returning to the banks of the river Wensum next March or April, weather dependent, but in the meantime they are loving being put out to graze in a lovely meadow next to the Alton Water reservoir, and you never know if this group does well, prove popular and thrive, then head ranger John Taylor could well be persuaded to buy Alton Water's own herd, or fold (named after the winter hut their owners use for them) as they prefer to be known.

That would depend on finding an equally fine breed of pedigree Hairy Coos that meet all the standards required by DEFRA and Anglian Water's land agents.

Nub News chatted with a couple of these shaggy ladies, who make light of their overgrown fringe, to graze contentedly despite the constant stream of humans, dogs and other night time wildlife, and we wanted to know how they ended up on the beautiful Shotley peninsula, and a bit about their background.

The girls, who all have their own pedigree names as listed above, like to get up close and personal, enjoy being petted and are very sociable, not at all hoity-toity, despite all their royal connections.

Apparently, according to those close to Aimee who prefers to munch on the meadow than chat, she and the other wee lassies were bought by Anglian water as a way of helping manage the floristic interest and species diversity on the open grasslands of their parks and as their usual home at Taveham Mill gets very wet during the winter months they need winter grazing and that is where Alton Water comes in.

Highland cattle are renowned for being a low maintenance, and a hardy breed and while they still need to be checked daily they do not require buildings for winter periods and are happy to calf outside, so visitors to Alton Water could be in for quite a show.

These gentle giants of Scotland, with their long horns, flowing red and golden locks never argue among themselves, and are just happy to get on with everyone.

Perhaps that is why Highland cattle is one of the oldest registered breeds of cattle in the world. They originated in the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides islands of Scotland as early as in the sixth century but originally bore shaggy black coats. Apparently it was Queen Victoria, on a trip to the Highlands who said she preferred the red coloured cattle and in an effort to please her, this resulted in selective breeding of the reddish colour that we see most often today.

The royal connection carries on to this day with Queen Elizabeth II owner her own herd and it is the only beef she will eat, probably because Highland Cattle meat is low in both fat and cholesterol and is also high in Iron.

Many of us have suffered lockdown hair but Aimee and her fold have always enjoyed the shaggy look, with their fringe known as a 'dossan', which may be a reason why the Scots affectionately refer to them the 'Hairy Coos'.

While it is all lassies at Alton Water, for now, it is worth noting the most noticeable difference between the two sexes is the shape of their horns. A bull's horns often grow forwards or even slightly downwards and have a much wider base, whereas a cow's face upwards and are longer and finer at the tip than a bull's horns.

The two love to mix and female Highlands are known for often breeding beyond the age of 18 and raising 15 or more calves in their lifetime, so we can look forward to seeing even more of these Hairy Coos in the future.

Visitors are welcome to go and see the Highland Cattle, which graze a short walk along the main rail from the car park, heading towards Tattingstone. See which one of Aimee, Stacy, Sonya, Candice, Selma and Joceleyne, your child (or you) will fall in love with. Don't forget the park closes at 4pm at the moment.