Adorable rare 'lawnmowers' set to work on overgrown Roundhay Park hill

The goats have been introduced to help manage the area

A group of goats have been introduce to Roundhay Park to help manage an overgrown area.

The goats have been brought in to graze in the Asket Hill are of Roundhay Park, to control the shrubs and brambles growing in the area. It is hoped the animals will manage the area, which can be hard to access due to steep terrain, in a natural way.

These animals are rare breed Royal Golden Guernsey goats, and have been supplied by Mossy Oaks in Castle Howard. They can live outdoors all-year-round in harsh environments, making them perfect for the job.

Oli from Mossy Oaks said: "It’s great that we’ve been able to work with Leeds City Council to provide an effective and nature friendly solution to restoring the species rich grassland at Asket Hill. The goats grazing will leave a perfect habitat for more delicate wildflowers to start to recolonise whilst leaving space for wildlife.

"We’re very thankful to our wonderful team of volunteers who are giving up their time to help us check on the goats whilst they’re on site."

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Asket Hill itself is an area recognised for its biodiversity. It is a lowland meadow, which is a threatened type of habitat, and supports wildflowers and insects.

These in turn are a good food source for birds and bats, and they will now be protected by letting the goats graze instead of making use of heavy machinery. During the past half-century, species-rich grasslands like Asket Hill have declined by 50 percent. The new system of grazing allows natural processes to take place, preserving the nature of the area.

Councillor James Gibson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment, said: "This is a fantastic way of managing this grassland in the best way possible, both maintaining the area and preventing it from being overgrown, and letting wildlife thrive at the same time.

"Asket Hill has been a challenge to look after due to it being very steep and uneven so getting these goats in is really brilliant and lets us protect our vital biodiversity. This is all part of our ambition to be the UK’s first nature positive city."

The goats will be grazing on Asket Hill until November 12, and people are being asked not to pet or feed them, and to keep any dogs on a lead nearby. The goats form part of a pilot scheme, and it is hoped they will return every year.