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| Bournemouth clifftop goat herd set to double | Bournemouth clifftop goat herd set to double |
| (3 months later) | |
| The herd of 50 goats graze 11 different areas along the cliffs in Bournemouth | The herd of 50 goats graze 11 different areas along the cliffs in Bournemouth |
| A herd of 50 goats that graze steep cliffs of a seaside resort is set to double in size. | A herd of 50 goats that graze steep cliffs of a seaside resort is set to double in size. |
| Ten goats were first brought in as an alternative to manage the vast area of cliffside vegetation in Bournemouth by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in 2009. | Ten goats were first brought in as an alternative to manage the vast area of cliffside vegetation in Bournemouth by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council in 2009. |
| Now a breeding project is under way to expand the herd to 100 to graze the area between West Cliff to Southbourne. | Now a breeding project is under way to expand the herd to 100 to graze the area between West Cliff to Southbourne. |
| Funding has come from a government agreement with Natural England. | Funding has come from a government agreement with Natural England. |
| The goats have become something of a tourist attraction and even have their own social media accounts | The goats have become something of a tourist attraction and even have their own social media accounts |
| The council and volunteer grazier, Mark Jackson, look after the herd, which includes several different breeds - Kashmir, Boer a South African breed, and feral goats. | The council and volunteer grazier, Mark Jackson, look after the herd, which includes several different breeds - Kashmir, Boer a South African breed, and feral goats. |
| He said: "Yes it's a lot of goats but with the amount of grazing they've got to do it's a fair number - we're going to breed at a nice slow steady pace." | He said: "Yes it's a lot of goats but with the amount of grazing they've got to do it's a fair number - we're going to breed at a nice slow steady pace." |
| The mums-to-be are taken off the clifftop about a month before they are due to birth and taken to a nearby small holding. | The mums-to-be are taken off the clifftop about a month before they are due to birth and taken to a nearby small holding. |
| Folly the goat has recently given birth to triplets at the small holding | Folly the goat has recently given birth to triplets at the small holding |
| Tom Bennet, council ranger, said: "It's moved away from people just wanting to come to the coast and and see the amazing beaches and views. | Tom Bennet, council ranger, said: "It's moved away from people just wanting to come to the coast and and see the amazing beaches and views. |
| "The goats are now a real tourist attraction in this area, which is really good." | "The goats are now a real tourist attraction in this area, which is really good." |
| Council ranger Tom Bennet said "the locals love them and they are a really good tourist attraction" | Council ranger Tom Bennet said "the locals love them and they are a really good tourist attraction" |
| The herd live on a seven-mile (11km) stretch of cliffs year-round including during the resort's annual four-day air show. | The herd live on a seven-mile (11km) stretch of cliffs year-round including during the resort's annual four-day air show. |
| Mr Bennet said: "They've been used to it for several years now, but Mark and some extra volunteers come and keep an eye on them during the air show." | Mr Bennet said: "They've been used to it for several years now, but Mark and some extra volunteers come and keep an eye on them during the air show." |
| Extra checks are carried out on the herd during the seaside resort's four-day annual air show | Extra checks are carried out on the herd during the seaside resort's four-day annual air show |
| The goats are placed in groups to graze within 11 two or three hectare fenced off areas. | The goats are placed in groups to graze within 11 two or three hectare fenced off areas. |
| "The goats are doing a really good job for us, managing vegetation that's almost impossible to do by hand," Mr Bennett said. | "The goats are doing a really good job for us, managing vegetation that's almost impossible to do by hand," Mr Bennett said. |
| "Without the goats, we really struggled to look after this area." | "Without the goats, we really struggled to look after this area." |
| This year's new arrivals are expected to join the herd on the cliffs in the spring. | This year's new arrivals are expected to join the herd on the cliffs in the spring. |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | |
| Animals | |
| Goats | |
| Bournemouth |