Meet Ventnor’s grazing gardeners. The goats on Ventnor Downs help control invasive holm oak, giving chalk grassland and its native wildlife more room.
The National Trust brought goats to the island in 1993 for this conservation work. They can be difficult to spot among the trees, so a sighting is a possibility rather than a promise.
Give the animals space. Do not approach a lone kid, as its mother may be nearby. Keep dogs under close control or on a lead.
Choose a walk suited to your fitness and the conditions. Check the weather and allow enough daylight.
Read the National Trust’s goat story and plan a visit.
Check accommodation availability for your island break at Isle of Wight Stays.
Image: artistic interpretation, not a documentary photograph.