A piece of B.C. 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.

香蕉视频直播淎s long as many folks here can recall, the woods have been infested with English ivy,香蕉视频直播� explained Allison Waldick, environment officer for the Victoria Airport Authority. 香蕉视频直播淲e needed something to help kick things off and build some momentum.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淣ow that I香蕉视频直播檝e been working here in the woods, I see it everywhere and I can香蕉视频直播檛 un-see it. It香蕉视频直播檚 inspired me in my own neighbourhood.香蕉视频直播�

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.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 pretty cool to see the before and after of their work,香蕉视频直播� Waldick said. 香蕉视频直播淭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.香蕉视频直播�

Some lessons were learned ahead of a second round 香蕉视频直播� again grant-funded 香蕉视频直播� that wrapped just ahead of Thanksgiving.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e tailoring it as we go.香蕉视频直播�

The first round saw them moving the goats three times 香蕉视频直播� putting up and taking down fencing. The second round was about selecting the right space, and something larger to see how they香蕉视频直播檇 work with it.

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

香蕉视频直播淵ou can香蕉视频直播檛 program a goat and tell them exactly what they should be eating,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey eat everything in order of tastiness and tenderness, and ivy is like Brussels sprouts.香蕉视频直播�

That meant figuring out the size and space needed for best removal efforts 香蕉视频直播� 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.

香蕉视频直播淲e had a couple naughty goats who were trying to escape on the first round,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播� dumping yard waste and trash.

She stresses the value in responsible disposal of landscaping waste. And while it香蕉视频直播檚 private land, people are known to traverse the trails there.

香蕉视频直播淚f you do happen to see the goats, just leave them be and do their work as employees of the airport.香蕉视频直播�