A Successful Pilot Project
Goats in the City was a big hit last year with these munchy critters eating our invasive plants, helping our meadows thrive. So how did it go and did they eat more than their quota. Did they live up to any part of their reputation as smart and crafty escape artists eating through fences and structures?
Billies, Nannies and Kids Were Munching Away
Evergreen Brick Works hosted Goats in the City with the City of Toronto on board for a target grazing project. Visitors were directed to the heart of the grazing fields, welcoming the public to view this controlled landscaping in action over a 2-day grazing initiative. Billies, nannies and kids were hard at work, munching on bushes, ivies and intrusive plants so the surrounding marshland species can continue to thrive. This eco-herd included 50 goats, 10 more than the pilot project last year, within a 1-acre fenced section and boy were they cute!
Don’t worry about any ambitious goats eating trees and not just poison ivy. They’re actually munching on Siberian Elms, Manitoba Maples and Buckthorn, all intrusions that create dense thickets and turn our much-needed, open meadows into woodlands. Thanks, Goats!
Well-Behaved Dinner Guests
If you missed Goats in the City this year, not to worry. You can catch them next year as it sounds like they’ll be invited back, as they were the perfect dinner guests.
Evergreen Brick Works also has other habitat conservation efforst such as turtle nest protection sites. Brick Works believes in peaceful sharing of urban spaces with wildlife, such as its neighbouring black-crowned night heron.
Evergreen Brick Works is a fantastic space to visit. It has winding paths and trails of at least 7km and also extends into the gorgeous belt line trail It also has a cafe and garden centre, so be sure to check out the entire 40-acre property.
A big thanks to our Goats in the City!
