On 22nd July, a small flock of goats arrived at London Wildlife Trust’s Hutchinson’s Bank Nature Reserve, charged with the crucial task of maintaining an important home for UK wildlife – the chalk grassland they will be taking care of is as rare and varied a habitat as rainforest. The goats' low level grazing will stop scrub invasion and encourage biodiversity in the area.

The five goats - Mungo, Midge, Elvis, Flora and Fauna - belong to the Old Surrey Downs Project. New fencing has been put up over the spring, paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund through the Project, in preparation for the animals’ arrival and public access on the site has also been increased.

A surprising wildlife mecca in south London, Hutchinson's Bank is home to a number of rare plants and insects, including the nationally rare small blue butterfly, whose eggs will be hatching on the site this month. The goats are going to be hard at work eating their way through some of the scrub (small trees and bushes) that's invading the chalk grassland.

‘Conservation grazing’ is the use of grazing animals to manage sites of conservation interest to encourage the wildlife that they support. Grazing livestock allows less competitive species to become established as dominant plant species are reduced. Trampling also creates areas of bare ground, which may be suitable for plant regeneration from seed or seedbanks, and are beneficial for invertebrates. Physical damage to vegetation from lying, rolling and pushing can also increase structural diversity.

The Old Surrey Downs Project is currently looking for people in the local area to help carry out some of the daily stock checks, if you are interested please contact the Project on 01737 733933.

It's open day at Hutchinson's Bank on Sunday 27th July - why not pay the site a visit and meet the goats?  Find out more.