Royal Golden Guernsey Goats join conservation herd

Three Royal Golden Guernsey goats have joined the island's conservation herd, which was previously made up of only Guernsey cattle.

The herd was established by La Société Guernesiaise in 2014 to graze areas around the island, removing the need for mechanical cutting while improving biodiversity.

Herd manager Will Harford-Fox said the goats would eat species cattle missed, including gorse, blackthorn and brambles.

The goats were welcomed on their release by Governor of Guernsey Lt Gen Sir Richard Cripwell, who said: "They can make a really valuable contribution to how Guernsey manages its own environment in the future."

He added that the milestone also provided an important step in the conservation of the goat species, which received its royal title from King Charles III in July 2024.

He said: "Many people for a number of years have been working to see how we can preserve but also promote the breed.

"Today is the first step really in seeing how we can broaden the way in which the goats live and are perceived by others."

Harford-Fox said the introduction of the goats followed well established conservation principles around mixed animal grazing.

He said: "They will strip bark and leaves from trees and they will eat spiky plants without issue, get in and around places that the cows wouldn't be able to.

"We're targeting the south coast cliffs and places like Icart Headland and Pleinmont... And we're hoping they're going to make a real difference in knocking back some of the scrub."

The goats are currently grazing separately from the existing cattle herd, but Hartford-Fox said he hoped to graze them together on certain sites once introductions were made.

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