North Norfolk District Council's famous Bagot goats are set to enjoy a well-earned retirement

Date published: 12th January 2024

Since April 2016 the goats have been deployed by the Council in Cromer and Salthouse Heath, providing an innovative and natural maintenance service by grazing on vegetation along some of the cliffs and slopes fronting these prominent coastal locations.

However, the herd of 12 goats is now ageing and will require more extensive welfare and veterinary checks in future - and it is therefore appropriate they are retired from service and housed in a more accessible location.

There are now greater regulatory requirements for animal housing, potentially requiring the Council to construct new shelters and more extensive fencing at both the cliff side and winter locations, which would need significant investment to keep the project going.

The Council has agreed a happy retirement solution for the goat herd with Norfolk Wildlife Trust to assist with their heathland grazing throughout their sites in the Norfolk region.

Leader of the Council Tim Adams said:

"It is a tough but sensible decision to retire our much-loved herd of Bagot goats from their Council duties. We are proud of the innovative decision to use them as part of our wider coastal maintenance work and they have proved very popular with residents and visitors, who have enjoyed spotting them grazing on the cliffs over the past few years.

"The Goats on the slope project has now come to its logical end, with significant investment required to keep it going, and it no longer being practical to resource looking after them. However, we are delighted members of the Environmental Protection Team have worked hard to ensure a well-deserved, happy and healthy retirement solution for them with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, where they will still assist with conservation."