A NORTH DEVON goat farmer has benefited from the first capital works grant to be awarded by Devon Wildlife Trust.

Lesley Prior, of Westcott Farm, near Rackenford, has used the cash to install fencing. It has enabled her to create separate fields, allowing better overall management of the site, which will help to protect key habitats such as Culm grassland. It is hoped the measures will reduce overgrazing by cattle, as well as helping the rare habitat to spread along the farm's valley bottom.

Lesley, who farms cashmere goats, said: "Goats are browsers and not grazers and are able to keep down invasive species while allowing rare Culm grassland treasures to flourish.

"The grant from DWT is helping us to help wildlife, what more can I ask?"

The awards form an important part of the charity's Working Wetlands project.