A team has come up with an eco-friendly way to clear scrubland on Portland – they've called in the goats.

The animals from Fancy's Farm have been brought it as a natural way to reduce scrub by munching through it.

It's all part of efforts to restore Verne Common nature reserve on the island.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has been working in partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust and Natural England on the restoration project.

The council owns the majority of the land with part of the reserve registered as common land. The area was designated as the Verne Common local nature reserve in 2007.

Goats being brought in to graze marked a 'significant milestone on the restoration journey', authorities said.

The goats are said to be very friendly and enjoy meeting visitors – but anyone going there should note that dogs must be kept on a lead. Dogs may frighten the goats or scare away any nesting birds, some species of which are rare and protected.

Jess Tilley, Portland Living Landscapes Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust said: “The area is of national importance. It supports hundreds of species of plants and animals.

"The site is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of National Conservation Interest. This means it has extremely high conservation value and legal protection."

She said nearly all the UK's limestone grassland has been lost – the Verne is one of two places in Dorset with this kind of valuable habitat.

Jess Tilley added: "This grazing scheme will play a huge part of the limestone grassland restoration project.

"The project will benefit a multitude of species. They include the unique ‘cretaceous’ form of the silver studded blue butterfly which now only survives on the island.”

Additional work at the site includes the installation of fence posts made from chestnut, specifically chosen to be in-keeping with the local habitat.

Information boards will be available at the Fine Foundation Chesil Beach Centre. They showcase the work achieved and what is next for the project. A short film is due to be released shortly, featuring interviews with the Dorset Wildlife Trust and Fancy’s Farm. It will also include the moment the goats are released into their new habitat.

Jeff Cant, Leader of Weymouth & Portland Borough Council and Briefholder for Finance and Assets, said: “ The council is delighted to contribute £100,000 to this project. The next phase is already underway, at the site known as Tillycombe and Verne Hill."

Ward councillor Paul Kimber added: “This is an accessible and valuable community asset that will be enjoyed by local residents and visitors for generations to come.”