Valley of Rocks Goat Environment Group (VORGEG)

Open Meeting

Future plans for 2008 and Voluntary Work for VORGEG

TUESDAY 22ND APRIL AT 7.30 P.M.
BARBROOK VILLAGE HALL

Includes showing of the film of the Lynton Feral Goats made on location in the Valley of Rocks

ALL WELCOME

For volunteer transport to the meeting ring 07974828160

Contact the Group - click here

Fund Raising

A table-top sale is to be held in Barbrook Village Hall on Saturday 2nd February from 12 noon until 4 pm ro raise money for the work of VORGEG.  Your support would be much appreciated.

To book a table please contact the group on 01598 752644. 

The recently released and long awaited film by Eric and Joyce Salter including the photography of Simon Travis will be shown during the afternoon.  This was made on location in the Valley of Rocks and well documents the life of the Lynton Feral Goats. Copies of the DVD will be available for purchase

1. Valley Watch. The group would like to help to establish a public contact point . This would help to reassure the public that something was being done and that their voice is being listened to. The Group would offer a Web Site address. A contact telephone number could be agreed with the Town Council. In negotiation with the Town Council the Group would like to promote Valley Watch in the Lynton Community and beyond. Concerns might include: reports on stray goats, goat welfare, accidents occurring in the Valley, maintenance of fencing and shelters etc. The Group would aim to report back to the Town Council on matters of importance.
2. Volunteer Helpers The group would like to establish a team of Volunteer helpers to carry out this Management Role which would include an active role in returning stray Goats to the valley. We propose to achieve this through advertising in the local press, ( North Devon Journal volunteer vacancy page), Working with the National Trust to set up a part time volunteer post including a written job description. Work also with other Community based organisations, like the Community Service Volunteers, British Conservationists and Taw Torridge Trust.
3. Monitoring Role. The group would regard itself as the main day to day authority on Goat losses and sickness and increase in numbers if any, as this would be a major part of our work. In this we would work closely with the Valley Management Group.
4. RSPCA and Vets The Group would take responsibility as needed in contacting the RSPCA and/ or Vets in the case of Goat injury or illness.
5. Management of Numbers There is a need take control the numbers of Goats in the Valley in accordance with the Grazing Strategy for the Valley. ( numbers of Goats currently agreed are between 40-80).The Group would like to establish a policy to address this issue. It would include the following: (a) Further research into the possibility of use of Implants/Castration. In this we would take the advice of informed others in this field ( Raymond Werner, Great Orme Goat Authority. ) (b) Rehoming. With the support of the RSPCA guidelines the group could organize new homes for goats as needed, either through a permanent loan scheme, or through a direct sale to new owners. New owners might include places such as, Nature Reserves , Woodland Trust, Farmers. Similar schemes have been carried out in conjunction with Exmoor Pony Rehoming. The Group would like to carry out a planned management of any necessary rounding up of Goats in conjunction with potential new owners and the Valley Management Group. Goat Cull. The Group consider culling of Goats to be the last resort only if all other policies have failed. Such a Cull would be carried out openly and in conjunction with the Town Council.
6. Goat Shelters The group are willing to co-ordinate the building of one or two trial Goat Shelters in agreement with the Lynton and Lynmouth Town Council and the Exmoor Planning Authority. This would include ongoing monitoring and repair of the shelters . We would also assist with the monitoring of fencing and Road Grids.
7. Fund Raising The Group will take steps to raise funds through Collection Boxes, Grant Applications, Local Appeals like the Autumn Watch for wildlife, Web Site Appeals; Car Boot Sales etc.
8. Web Site A Web Site is already in existence and we would like to continue to use this electronic way to build support and to promote the work of the VORGEG.