Oxygen Conservation plans to reduce wild goat numbers, citing habitat damage, sparking petition and local outrage.
Oxygen Conservation owns land in southern Scotland. Benny Higgins chairs this company; he used to lead Tesco Bank. Their land includes two farms near Langholm Moor. These farms measure over eleven thousand acres. The company told the newspaper about their land plans.
They want to revive nature to protect the environment. This includes both natural spaces and built areas. The company says goats harm trees. They also say the animals hurt the habitat. They think reducing goat numbers is hard but needed.
They watched the goat population closely. This monitoring lasted over a year. Surveys showed over 140 goats. They decided to lower the goat count. This helps their wider restoration work. But, the Langholm community disagrees. People started a petition against this plan.
A local group posted on Facebook. They said goats are precious and bring joy to anyone who sees them. These goats live peacefully with all creatures. They haven’t harmed the land.
They have lived there for centuries. The decision ignores the goats’ history and community meaning.