A piece of airport land plagued by both invasive plants and human trash is looking to spruce up with the help of a herd of goats hired on to eat for two weeks.

B次元官网网址淎s long as many folks here can recall, the woods have been infested with English ivy,B次元官网网址� explained Allison Waldick, environment officer for the Victoria Airport Authority. B次元官网网址淲e needed something to help kick things off and build some momentum.B次元官网网址�

English ivy was once introduced as a quick-growing thick cover for walls and ground. Now out of control, it can grow so dense it suppresses native plants and climbs trees, reducing their lifespan and leaving them more susceptible to wind damage.

B次元官网网址淣ow that IB次元官网网址檝e been working here in the woods, I see it everywhere and I canB次元官网网址檛 un-see it. ItB次元官网网址檚 inspired me in my own neighbourhood.B次元官网网址�

The goal is to protect the trees and other native species in the 30 acres of wooded area adjacent to the Victoria International Airport in North Saanich.

Inspired by a Ladysmith Chronicle story detailing how a homeowner hired a herd of goats to clear a boulevard overrun with ivy and more, Waldick set out in search of goats for hire.

Armed with a micro-grant, she first tasked 10 four-legged Vancouver Island Goatscaping staffers with a targeted browsing pilot project in June.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty cool to see the before and after of their work,B次元官网网址� Waldick said. B次元官网网址淭hey eat the leaves off the vines and leave the vines intact, this reduces the biomass of the forest and we can remove what remains.B次元官网网址�

Some lessons were learned ahead of a second round B次元官网网址� again grant-funded B次元官网网址� that wrapped just ahead of Thanksgiving.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e tailoring it as we go.B次元官网网址�

The first round saw them moving the goats three times B次元官网网址� putting up and taking down fencing. The second round was about selecting the right space, and something larger to see how theyB次元官网网址檇 work with it.

Also, goats find deciduous bark tasty and clip a tree clean before embarking on less flavourful vegetation.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 program a goat and tell them exactly what they should be eating,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey eat everything in order of tastiness and tenderness, and ivy is like Brussels sprouts.B次元官网网址�

That meant figuring out the size and space needed for best removal efforts B次元官网网址� attempting to narrow the smorgasbord spread and focus. Fencing was also reinforced on the second round, and some goats got air tags as an added precaution.

B次元官网网址淲e had a couple naughty goats who were trying to escape on the first round,B次元官网网址� Waldick explained.

The environment officer emphasizes the airport forest is private property. While they battle the invasive, it is also prone to some of the human problems seen in other wooded areas B次元官网网址� dumping yard waste and trash.

She stresses the value in responsible disposal of landscaping waste. And while itB次元官网网址檚 private land, people are known to traverse the trails there.

B次元官网网址淚f you do happen to see the goats, just leave them be and do their work as employees of the airport.B次元官网网址�