The Famous "Lawnmower" Goats of Bournemouth

July 2, 2025, 4:13 am | Read time: 3 minutes

The southern English town of Bournemouth is primarily known and loved by tourists for its beautiful beaches. However, since 2009, it has also featured another attraction: a herd of goats employed as natural “landscape gardeners.” These goats have since become genuine social media stars and have significantly increased in number. They not only protect the fragile vegetation but have also taken on a role akin to “garbage collectors.” TRAVELBOOK visited the site to learn more about these “lawnmower” goats.

Anyone strolling along the picturesque cliffs of the southern English town of Bournemouth these days might not only enjoy the fantastic view of the miles-long beaches and the sea. They might also encounter real superstars, albeit not human ones. We’re talking about a herd of goats that have been employed as “landscape gardeners” here for more than a decade. They have become so well-known that they have turned into a genuine tourism drawcard. But how did this unusual success story come about?

According to the BBC, the story of the “lawnmower” goats began in 2009. At that time, the administration of the Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole communities “hired” a herd of ten animals. These were to inhabit an 11-kilometer stretch of coastline and graze there. This way, they could dispense with human labor in the sometimes rugged terrain. Regular landscape maintenance on the cliffs is necessary to keep the fragile vegetation in balance. And the goats did this particularly effectively over time. A spokeswoman for the interest group “Bournemouth Goats” told TRAVELBOOK: “The test phase was successful back then, and so the project was expanded.”

Animal Celebrities

What no one probably expected: The animals not only did their “work” but also became real celebrities over time. Initially, only on a local level, but by now they are known far beyond the borders of Great Britain. The Facebook page “Bournemouth Goats,” where you can find pictures, videos, and updates about the animals, currently has more than 13,700 members. On Instagram, they have about 3,500 fans, and on TikTok, more than 200. “We post here regularly, and our fans like to include the goats in their own content.” The spokeswoman for “Bournemouth Goats” also describes the animals as a “real tourist attraction.” “Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was nationwide coverage, and the fan base steadily grew.”

Today, 50 animals live on the cliffs of Bournemouth year-round in the open air. Increasing the “family” to one hundred specimens is already planned. Major media outlets still report on them regularly, for instance, in June 2025, when a baby goat was born three weeks early and taken into the herd. Its mother had not accepted it after birth. Thanks to human help, it survived. The Facebook page keeps its fans regularly updated on the condition and antics of “Midget.” And the goats not only maintain the landscape and pose for pictures, but have also become real environmental detectives.

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True Environmentalists

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As reported by the Bournemouth Echo, the goats have uncovered trash through their grazing that had long been buried. This is now regularly collected and removed by human volunteers. Much of the waste had likely been lying on the cliffs for years, damaging the environment. On the expansive area, which covers numerous hectares, several species of goats live peacefully together. Signs along the coast now even indicate where you can observe and photograph them in particularly spectacular ways.

“There is also an annual goat calendar, hand-knitted figures, bags, and other gift items. All proceeds directly benefit the welfare of the animals.” And there’s even a goat rock star in the herd. The buck Llywelyn, until his retirement on the cliffs of Bournemouth, was the mascot of the Royal Welsh Regiment and participated in celebrations such as the late Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday. In 2023, the first triplets were born here. And that was certainly not the last sweet highlight in the success story of the “lawnmower” goats.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.