Group fights goats plan for Bristol Downs
Members of the pressure group Bristol Downswatch have dismissed proposals to put goats on Avon Gorge as a waste of public money.
Bristol City Council has put forward plans to release up to six feral goats on the Avon Gorge to protect rare plants.
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The council says if the plan was approved the costs would be "minimal" and that the goats would be contained in a specially fenced area monitored by the Downs Ranger team.
A public consultation is currently taking place into the use of the goats at Walcombe Slade on the Downs – also known as the Gully.
But Bristol Downswatch claim the goats will endanger the survival of whitebeam tree found in the Avon Gorge and cause damage to gardens in Clifton and Sneyd Park if they escape.
And that fencing part of the downs to house the goats would be illegal, as the Bristol Downs Act of 1861 requires the Downs "to be kept open and un-enclosed."
Downswatch member Roger Yates said: "The public consultation on the use of goats to keep down vegetation in Walcombe Slade on the Downs is really little more than a PR exercise.
"Natural England knew, back in 2006, that goats would destroy the little whitebeam trees unique to the Avon Gorge.
"They have a rather improbable plan to fence in the goats and then fence in the whitebeams from the goats. This will not solve the problem that these trees will not be able to regenerate.
"We would like to see the appointment of a botanical worker, employed by the council, advised by Natural England and trained by university botanists.
"This scheme also requires the fencing off of part of the Downs. The Downs Act of 1861 states that the Downs are to be kept 'open and unenclosed'. Are we to see it enclosed for the first time in its history for the convenience of Natural England – an unelected quango?
"What is more, the goats are sure to escape at some stage. If that does happen, the goats may present a danger to traffic on the Portway or damage gardens."
Fellow member Dr John Maher added: "The council and Natural England have made it clear that this is a cost cutting exercise, rather than spending money on human resources to manage the Downs.
"In the year of Darwin's bi-centenary, surely this area needs the attentions of botanists – not goats."
Natural England's Chris Westcott said 100 people a day had been to visit a presentation of the proposals on the Downs.
He said that every precaution would be taken to stop the goats escaping and that Section XI of the Downs Act 1861 allows for temporary fencing on the Downs for the purpose of "improving and preserving the turf".
"We are working with the national whitebeam experts from Bristol University and the National Museum of Wales to ensure that the rare whitebeam trees in the Gorge are monitored and conserved," added Mr Westcott.
"The area proposed for introducing the goats only contains a small number of the overall population of the Gorge's rare whitebeam trees."
The proposals will be available for public comment from 17 April to 29 May and can be found at www.bristol.gov.uk.
7 Comments
by gerry, bristol
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 4:54PM
“I'm sure i read somewhere there was a bylaw allowing grazing on the downs.”
by Pedro, Bristol
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 4:09PM
“Do "Downswatch" actually do anything constructive?
I do like their sniffy comment about Natural England being a "Non-Elected Quango", when they themselves are... a bunch of amateurs who have not had to go through any formal job selection procedure whatsoever to gain their positions, let alone get qualifications & compete on an open job market. Natural England at least employs a high calibre of experts, rather than being a bunch of grumblers who'll knock any change to their status quo. God Forbid! The Council is trying to save taxpayer's money! It's a disgrace! The Council is trying to effectively manage the Gorge in an environmentally friendly way! It's an outrage!”
by Mark, Stoke Bishop
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 2:24PM
“"Up on the Downs" - isn't that an oxymoron? Are those on the Portway down on the Ups?
The whitebeam tree: isn't that the one at White Tree Roundabout with the white ring helpfully painted around it? I often wondered which was there first: the tree or the roundabout.
Taxi's here!”
by Mark, Stoke Bishop
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 2:15PM
“Next week: Bristol Council plans to plant a vineyard on the edge of the Downs producing their classic Goats do Roam.
That's it, I'm definitely getting my goat, I mean my coat. Taxi!”
by Norman, Bemmie
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 1:31PM
“"Release up to six feral goats on the Avon Gorge" - here is a much better idea, release six feral yobs from Henbury to keep the grass down. If they manage get out, simple, push them down again. There two problems solved!!!.”
by steve, Not Sneyd Park or Clifton.
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 9:26AM
“I have heard from a reliable source that the goats have had specialist training in choosing gardens from the lower reaches of Bristol and NOT Sneyd or Clifton to ransack if they indeed escape!! I can't help feeling these protests would be non-existent if the idea was to let goats roam in the hills above Hartcliffe, Bedminster or Ashton.”
by wibble, Clifton
Wednesday, April 22 2009, 8:49AM
“Whitebeam tree ? nah, c'mon never heard of it , you've just made that up now haven't you ?
As for the supposed Whitebeam experts at Bristol Uni which department are they in, my guess is the 'money for old rope' department. Hmmm budget day where can we save some money ...
Up on the downs looking at the Gorge which would be more fun, parents and children (gawd I nearly said kids there ..puntastic .. BEP feel free to use that one..) pointing and saying .. 'Hey ! look there'-s a goat wa-hey !' or pointing and saying 'Ooh look there's a Whitebeam tree, nah hang on it could be a birch.. etc'
Goats on the Gorge, great idea.”