An iconic view from Richmond Hill has been given the honour of being welcomed into the National Trust family.

Petersham Meadows and the peacefully grazing cattle that live there were officially put under the protection of the charitable preservation trust on Tuesday in a special ceremony at the field.

The meadow, which has been managed by Richmond Council with help from the Petersham Trust for the past nine years, will now be looked after by the National Trust and maintained for future public enjoyment.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “I think it [the handover] was a landmark moment.

“Because the view is protected anyway I think there was the feeling that the cattle grazing on the land is a very important part of that scene too.

“The whole thing is about making sure a much loved scene continues to be there for everyone to enjoy.”

The meadows, which are already protected as part of the 1902 Parliament Act that protects the view from the hill is currently home to 17 grazing cattle and the National Trust hope to maintain animals feeding on the land as they see it as an integral part of the scenery.

At the ceremony to officially hand management of the site over, National Trust representative Dame Fiona Reynolds presented the first peppercorn rent of a posey of flowers to Richmond’s mayor David Marlow. The posey is the nominal payment the trust will make each year to the authority.

She said: “This is a historic moment for everyone who cares about a place and a view which has inspired so many people for generations.”