GPS-controlled goats put to work in Welsh town as children warned to stay away
Narberth Town Council is using the goats to carry out an important task, and has asked visitors to stay away from the animals while they work
Narberth Town council is using 'Bio-Goats' to keep a local churchyard clear
(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service )
A Welsh town council has decided to try out a new environmentally friendly approach to managing overgrown areas - by putting goats in a local churchyard.
Narberth Town Council stated that the goats, from nearby Clynderwen, would represent a "chemical-free method of managing overgrown areas", but added that children should stay away from the animals.
The council stated: "Narberth Town Council is continuing its work to enhance the grounds of St Andrew's Church as part of our ongoing biodiversity and environmental improvement programme.
"To support this, we are trialling a natural and chemical-free method of managing overgrown areas by introducing Bio Goats – an eco-friendly solution for controlling brambles and invasive vegetation." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
The council continued: "These goats will help clear excess growth around gravestones and across the site, enabling us to implement a longer-term ground management plan.
"The goats are GPS ringfenced to remain within a designated area, and daily welfare checks will be carried out to ensure they are healthy, safe, and well cared for throughout their time on site.
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"We kindly ask all visitors to support this initiative by avoiding the goat-grazing area while they are at work, keeping dogs on a lead at all times in the vicinity, and ensuring children are supervised and kept a safe distance away.
"We understand that children may be curious and wish to see the goats. However, we respectfully ask that this is discouraged, as human interaction may disturb the animals and interfere with their natural grazing behaviour."
The goats, from Clynderwen-based Biogoats 2 Rent, managed by Richard and Dawn for the past six seasons, are already at work at St Andrew's and are set to stay there for two to three weeks.
Biogoats 2 Rent, which is believed to be the only enterprise of its kind in the UK, has provided an environmentally friendly service to Pembrokeshire Council, the national park, and various local churches.
"They're most recognised down at Canaston Bridge," Dawn shared, noting that the goats had been used as an eco-friendly method for clearing natural set aside areas on the Robeston Wathen bypass and had also worked at Tenby's St Mary's church, with a return visit planned for later this summer.
Instead of traditional collars, the goats are managed using GPS satellite technology, a technique recently featured on Clarkson's Farm, the agricultural show hosted by TV personality Jeremy Clarkson.
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"I think he stole the idea from us," Richard quipped, mentioning: "We're the only company in the UK to do this; we get enquiries from all over the UK, but the travel costs can make it unviable for the customers from further away."
They concluded: "We enjoy what we do and meet some nice people along the way."
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