"Goat Project" provides ecological restoration and cleanup in Lexington's Oxford Circle

Photo byLexTV

LEXINGTON, KY - In a remarkable display of community engagement and ecological restoration, Lexington's Oxford Circle neighborhood is undergoing a transformation, thanks to the combined efforts of local residents, council members, and an innovative goat project. This initiative, highlighted in a recent YouTube video, showcases how local action can lead to significant environmental and social improvements.

The video, featuring Council Member Jennifer Reynolds and several key community figures, delves into the "Goat Project," a streambank restoration effort in Oxford Circle. This initiative, funded by a LFUCG water quality incentive grant, employs goats as an eco-friendly method to remove invasive bush honeysuckle from stream banks. The project aims to replace these invasives with native plants, enhancing the local ecosystem.

Paula Singer, a long-time advocate for cleaning up the Von's Branch part of WLR Creek, spearheads the project. Since 2012, traditional methods struggled to gain community support and interest. The introduction of goats, however, has sparked widespread community engagement. These goats, adept at consuming invasive species like bush honeysuckle and poison ivy, offer a natural solution to managing overgrown areas.

The project has not only improved the local environment but also fostered a sense of community. Volunteers, drawn to the project, spend hours educating passersby about the importance of invasive plant management. The initiative's success is evident in the reduced regrowth of invasives and the community's increased involvement.

A standout community member, Teresa, has been instrumental in extending the project's impact. Motivated by the initial goat project, Teresa began a cleanup initiative in Oxford Circle, addressing the area's neglect and trash accumulation. Her efforts, including clearing abandoned homeless encampments and engaging local businesses in cleanup efforts, have transformed the neighborhood. Teresa's project, "Oxford Circle Garbage Busters," aims to extend this cleanup effort beyond Oxford Circle to all of Lexington.

Farmer David Neville, who provides the goats, explains their ecological role in detail. The goats' grazing not only clears the invasive plants but also prevents their regrowth, contributing to the long-term health of the stream banks. This method is a sustainable alternative to chemical treatments or heavy machinery.

The Goat Project is a pilot, with plans to monitor its effectiveness and potentially expand upstream, connecting with other ecological sites like Preston's Cave and McConnell Springs. The hope is that after three grazing cycles, the invasive honeysuckle will be eradicated, paving the way for native plant restoration.

This initiative exemplifies how community-driven environmental projects can lead to significant improvements in both the ecosystem and neighborhood aesthetics. The combined efforts of dedicated residents, council members, and ecological solutions like the Goat Project are creating a cleaner, greener, and more engaged community in Lexington's Oxford Circle.