GOATS in a country park are related to a rare breed of medieval goat that is thought to be extinct.

Scientists have discovered that the goats at Thorndon Country Park, Brentwood are related to the Cheviot breed of goat that dates back more than 1,000 year ago.

The herd at Thorndon Country Park is thought to be the largest in the country. Experts estimate the total UK Cheviot population is as few as 500 to 1000 goats.

The goats were brought to Essex from Northumberland after emergency rehoming was required.

Place Services’ Essex Grazing Project now cares for them as part of its work to support sites that require grazing to support scarce wildlife or to help conserve historic landscapes.

Place Services is a traded service of Essex County Council. It is a leading provider of integrated environmental assessment, planning, design and management services.

Simon Walsh, councillor responsible for the environment said that DNA tests have proved that these goats date back to before 1066.

He added: “We’re delighted to have a piece of history right here in our county.

“The Essex Grazing Project is an excellent project helping to prevent this rare UK breed from becoming extinct, with the added advantage that these goats proving to be more effective than machinery at controlling woody vegetation.

“It’s win win and obviously something we’re happy to bleat about.”

The studies suggest that the Cheviot goats are an identical match to the Old English Goat, which were around when Queen Victoria was on the throne and the remains of which have been recovered from several medieval archaeological sites in London.

With their rare breed status confirmed, Place Services now hope to successfully breed the animals in order to increase their numbers as well as introducing them to other sites that require a conservation grazing service in Essex and further afield. There has already been interest from Basildon Council, with ten goats recently introduced at Wat Tyler Country Park.