Two herds of goats are calling Sutton Heath home this summer to help East Suffolk Council conserve the habitat. Find out more here
Until the end of September, two herds of cheviot goats will be at Sutton Heath as they help to maintain the lowland heathland through low impact grazing. After a successful trial, 10 billy goats aged between 3 and 10 years old have been introduced to sensitively control the scrub naturally in place of machinery or harmful herbicides, while safeguarding vulnerable ground nesting birds and their habitats. During the grazing period, the cheviot goats will be fitted with GPS collars to ensure they stay within specific areas, with traditional fencing providing a backup to safeguard them from livestock worrying. The team of volunteers will be carrying out daily welfare checks throughout the summer having completed a course on goat husbandry by the Graziers, Legacy Grazing who supply and specialise in conservation grazing ensuring the goats are safe and healthy.
Cllr Sally Noble, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for the Environment, said: “It is wonderful to see the goats back on the heathland as they play an important role in the protection of this rare and sensitive habitat. They are an important part of our low impact management regime of the heathland minimising disturbance to wildlife. As part of supporting their return, a group of volunteers and I completed a training course in goat maintenance earlier this summer, giving us the skills to carry out daily checks and ensure the goats’ welfare while they are with us.”
Michael Ryder, Countryside Officer at East Suffolk Services Ltd (ESSL), said: “It’s great to see the goats back here at Sutton Heath for another season as they play a vital role in managing this rare and sensitive habitat. The cheviot goats are an ancient British breed that make light work of the woody plants and invasive scrub and are helping to keep the heathland open. While they’re here, we’re reminding dog owners to keep dogs on leads, stick to paths, give the goats space, and to always bag and bin dog waste to help prevent the spread of disease.”
Featured image of Cheviot goat – credit Legacy grazing
Leave a Reply