February 2026 update

Cows arrive in Tolworth on anniversary of Ziggy Stardust debut

Deputy Mayor for Environment & Energy Mete Çoban released the new arrivals at TCFF on Tuesday 10 Feburary

We held quite an eccentric two-part event earlier in the month, unusual even by our standards. First up was the unveiling of a new Bowie-themed public mural on the pedestrian paths snaking across Tolworth roundabout.

The launch coincided with the 54th anniversary of Ziggy Stardust’s debut at the former Toby Jug nearby, and we think it marks the occasion rather nicely; as did the wonderful performances of Bowie’s greatest hits by the Our Lady Immaculate Primary School choir in attendance. The Jug might be long-gone, but the musical spirit seems to be alive and well in Tolworth.

Credit to Tom from Skyhigh for the mural itself — the eagle-eyed may recognise the style from his nature- and dinosaur-themed piece previously on the other side of the roundabout

But we weren’t done there! After the obligatory mural photo-op, the crowd followed the famous TCB panto cow down to Tolworth Court Farm Fields (TCFF) for the next event: the return of cattle to the borough’s largest nature reserve in over 50 years.

The three cows are intended to help in rewilding efforts on the site, being rotated around the different sections of the reserve throughout the year. We could discuss the how, like the way their hoofprints aerate the soil and help create tiny wetlands habitats or that their grazing allows more light to reach native wildflowers competing with the various species of grasses, but a) this newsletter is long enough as it is, and b) Citizen Zoo, one of our partners on the project, has already explained this far more thoroughly (and concisely) than we city-slickers ever could.

You can read more about the new bovine residents (and the wider rewilding of TCFF) on their website.

The day was quite the success in the end, even with the battlefield conditions of the fields following all the rain at the start of the year. But with some rousing words from a few speakers and a remarkable arsenal of wellies at the ready, it all came together in the end.

Not only that, but we made it on BBC London news that evening! It’s worth a watch if you haven’t already.