Highwoods Country Park goats settling into new homes

Cheviot goats with huge horns and gorgeous marbled coats have been spotted mooching around in Highwoods Country Park, Colchester.

The stunning herd has been enlisted to help support Colchester Council’s restoration of a wildflower meadow at Farthing Bottom Field.

The scheme is part of the authority’s Colchester Woodland and Biodiversity Project and will see the curious creatures live – and work – at the site for the next three years.

Roaming - the Cheviot goats have been spotted (Image: Shiela Winwright)

Camera club member Shiela Winwright has been sharing her incredible pictures of the goats.

Currently, there are just four goats doing their bit to maintain the popular park, but a further six are expected to soon join them.

Groom - they are helping to keep things tidy (Image: Shiela Winwright)

Steph Nissen, Colchester councillor for environment and sustainability, said: “We are committed to preserving and enhancing biodiversity, 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 currently dominating the site.”

Visitors to Highwoods Country Park are asked not to approach or feed the goats, and not to walk dogs through the field.