Bournemouth: Litter pickers needed to keep goats safe

The enclosure sits near to a cliff edge and requires specialist equipment to remove the litter safely

Specialist litter pickers are set to clean up a steep cliff enclosure on Bournemouth seafront on which a herd of 50 goats graze.

The herd was originally introduced to manage cliffside vegetation.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council BCP said it was aware of littering and specialists would be needed to deal with the steepest areas.

Goat owner Mark Jackson said his animals had also "eaten away the grass to expose historical rubbish".

Mr Jackson, who has been a goat grazer for the council for three years, said there has not yet been "threat or harm for the goats" but the litter needed to be cleared.

"Sadly, it's not a case of a quick litter pick, this particular enclosure is very steep and requires a specialist clearance team with the appropriate safety equipment," he added.

The goats have become a tourist attraction on the Bournemouth cliffs

Councillor Kieron Wilson, member for housing and regulatory services, said the local authority was "determined to tackle littering across our beautiful area".

"We are aware of litter within some of the goat areas on the cliff face and our staff are undertaking litter picking where it is safe to do so."

He stressed anyone caught littering faces a fine of up to £150.

The goats have grazed on a seven-mile (11km) stretch of cliffs since being introduced in 2009.

They have since become something of a tourist attraction and fans have even set up social media accounts following their activities.

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