Baby Goats Spotted Frolicking On Ventnor Downs As Spring Arrives
- Dominic Kureen
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Visitors to Ventnor Downs this spring may be lucky enough to spot new-born baby goats playing across the grass and bracken.
Over the past couple of weeks, nanny goats from the Old English breed have been giving birth, with their young – known as kids – now beginning to explore the steep downland landscape.
The arrivals have been warmly welcomed by rangers and volunteers from the National Trust, who help manage the site.
The goats, which live wild on the downs, play an important role in caring for the landscape.
Their grazing helps control invasive holm oak trees, protecting the rare chalk grassland and allowing its flower-rich turf to flourish.
This habitat supports a wide range of wildlife, including plants such as horseshoe vetch and species like the Adonis blue butterfly.
National Trust ranger Ian Ridett said:
“It's been a real tonic witnessing the arrival of our goat kids after such a wet and miserable winter.
"With the prolonged rain into early spring, we were a little concerned the kids might struggle, but so far it's looking good, and they've recently had a bit of warm sunshine which will have helped.
“Suddenly there are signs of spring everywhere on the downs, with over-wintering butterflies appearing – peacocks, red admirals and brimstones – along with primroses and celandines. It's really heart-warming to see.”
However, the National Trust says this is a particularly vulnerable time for the young goats and their mothers, with several recent incidents of dog attacks reported.
Visitors are being urged to keep dogs on leads while walking on the downs and across other National Trust countryside sites on the Isle of Wight.
Doing so will not only help protect the young goats but also other wildlife that is at risk at this time of year, including ground-nesting birds such as skylarks and meadow pipits.
A Historic Herd
The goats on Ventnor Downs are part of an ancient breed originally released in the Cheviot Hills in the 1860s.
A herd later became established at Valley of Rocks in the 1970s.
In 1993, the National Trust brought nine of these goats to the Isle of Wight to help control scrub growth and protect the rare chalk grassland habitat found on the downs.
Although the goats live wild throughout the year, they are rounded up each autumn by rangers and volunteers for health checks, when that year’s kids are also tagged.
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