VIDEO: Grazing goats to the rescue at historical garden
A herd of goats has come to the rescue at a top visitor attraction - by acting as a cheap form of lawn mower.
The 24 rare Bagot goats are helping to keep down the grass in a prized part of the Shugborough Estate in Staffordshire.
Bosses say the survival of the estate's East Walled Garden is under serious threat from invasive weeds and saplings.
Modern-day tools cannot be used for fear of causing additional damage and the use of machinery has also been ruled out because the noise would disturb nearby bat roosts.
Enter the bearded band of Bagots who have proved more than willing to carry out this important task, and all for free.
The 200-year-old garden is internationally recognised as a horticultural gem, which in its day drew crowds from across the country to see its steam-heated greenhouses and chimney-heated walls, the latest technology of the time.
After a century of neglect, the garden is back on the tourist map - but causing a maintenance headache.
The new environmentally-friendly way of keeping the garden weed-free is possible because Bagot goats will eat a wide range of weeds that more modern breeds would not touch.
Estate chiefs say it has also helped to secure the future of the breed.
Staffordshire County Council, which has taken over the running of Shugborough, described the maintenance of the East Walled Garden as 'an expensive and labour-intensive task'.
Mark Winnington, cabinet member for the economy, said: "And that's where the rare-breed Bagot goats come in, quite literally.
"Bagots are perfect for conservation grazing: they are small and light-footed, meaning they can graze lightly around sensitive archaeology.
"Shugborough is one of the few farms in the UK with Rare Breed Status, and we're hoping that this new goat-powered conservation move could prove a blueprint for other sites to follow."
Only 100-200 breeding Bagot females are left in the world, with their origin traced to medieval times at nearby Blithfield Hall.
Mr Winnington said: "The goats will become yet another attraction for Shugborough, and visitors will be able to see this near-extinct rare breed at work as they preserve and uncover more and more of the archaeology in the area."
