Tophill Low diversifies livestock with seven Boer goats

Yorkshire Water’s Tophill Low Nature Reserve has welcomed seven South African Boer goats in a bid to diversify livestock at the site and improve conservation grazing.

The animals, named Nibbles, Dodge, Elderflower, Betsy, Lily, Lucy and Lara, will be grazing the meadows at Tophill Low. Their pedigree and feeding behaviour means they will target more fibrous vegetation that the more established Belted Galloway herd overlook.

The goats will help maintain open spaces at the nature reserve and safeguard native wildflower and grass habitats.

Amy Watsham, nature reserve warden at Yorkshire Water, said: “Boer goats have a wide dietary range and their evolution makes them perfect for tackling hardier vegetation that other livestock on the site ignore.

“We have more than 16 acres of hay meadows at Tophill Low and it’s important we keep on top of it all. The new additions are already having an impact on scrub species like Hawthorn, Goat Willow and Brambles and are an environmentally sensitive method of habitat management, which plays a part in achieving our carbon net zero target.”

The aim of the project is to increase the herd size and to expand the grazing area, introducing the goats to different areas of the site to improve local biodiversity and reduce our use of fossil fuel powered equipment.

Grazier Charlotte Taylor added: “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to keep my herd of Boer goats at Yorkshire Water’s Tophill Low. Nature is a passion of mine and it’s really exciting to be able to play a part in improving the biodiversity on the reserve. The goats have settled into life on the scrub quickly, enjoying exploring their habitat whilst making a good start on those brambles.”