Colchester country park brings in goats - in bid to get wildflowers growing again
Four Cheviot goats have a new home at High Woods Country Park
A country park in Colchester has hired some new staff to help with a project to bring wildflowers in part of the reserve.
Four Cheviot goats have been brought in at the High Woods Country Park, with a further six set to join them over the coming weeks.
They'll be kept on the site over the next three years as they'll help eat plants that are currently preventing wildflowers growing.
The goats will be staying at Farthing Bottom Field. Visitors are being urged not to approach them or to walk dogs near them.
Councillor Steph Nissen, who's in charge of environental issues at the authority, said:
“We are committed to preserving and enhancing biodiversity in Colchester, and doing more each year. I am extremely pleased we have been able to work with Legacy Grazing to bring this ecologically sensitive conservation project to Colchester.
“The goats’ role is conservation-grazing of the dog rose, bramble and blackthorn that are currently dominating the site, and is vital in encouraging more wildflowers and diversity.
“This is just one small part of the wider work we are doing to safeguard and improve our environment in Colchester: from mowing less to planting trees and encouraging wildflowers.”