Travellers occupy Mowbray Fields nature reserve; two pygmy goats vanish and later are recovered as eviction tensions rise
Residents in the Oxfordshire village of East Hagbourne report intimidation and litter as authorities grapple with a camp that expanded despite an eviction order, while police investigate theft and abuse claims.
A convoy of travellers pitched up at Mowbray Fields nature reserve in East Hagbourne, Oxfordshire, triggering a police inquiry after two pygmy goats vanished from a nearby field and locals reported intimidation and disorder at the site. The incident unfolded at a time when the five-and-a-half acre reserve, a biodiversity haven near Didcot, is normally a quiet spot for dog walkers, cyclists and families.
Eight or so caravans and campervans moved in on Wednesday evening, with gates to the meadow allegedly forced open using bolt cutters and the security chain and padlock bypassed. Generators buzzed through the nights, and locals reported a rapid change in the reserve’s atmosphere as the travellers established a presence in the right-hand corner of the field. Oxfordshire County Council had previously issued an eviction order attached to a wooden fence post two days earlier, but the encampment continued to grow before leaving the site on Monday evening as dusk fell and the group moved toward Berkshire.
The immediate disruption followed the disappearance of two goats, Randall and Lawrence, which locals described as famous fixtures on nearby farmland. Their owners, Justine Shepperson and her son Tom Goodenough, said the animals were taken from a field adjacent to the reserve on Monday afternoon. Ms. Shepperson said a social media campaign rapidly drew attention to the loss, with the goats’ distinctive markings and TikTok and YouTube videos helping mobilize assistance.
Police investigated the theft and coordinated with volunteers and local residents as information circulated about the goats’ movements. Two days after the disappearance, officers tracked the animals to a separate site about 20 miles away in Prospect Park, Reading, where they were found tied to a tree and then moved to the police station for reunification with their owners. Ms. Shepperson described the moment of retrieval as miraculous and credited the support of the community and social media followers for helping locate the animals.
Reform county councillor Hao Du visited Mowbray Fields over the weekend and spoke with residents about the encampment, escalating concerns about safety and access. They reported not only the theft but also aggressive confrontations, including an incident in which an Asian couple walking a dog was allegedly subjected to racist remarks and threats, and a confrontation involving a person brandishing a pitchfork. Thames Valley Police confirmed inquiries into the reports of a dog attack and abusive language, and said they were reviewing several complaints.
Local residents described a range of disturbances that followed the travellers’ arrival, including intimidation of people in the area, loud noise around the clock, and crowds of youths surrounding nearby properties. One Tesco home-delivery customer said teens from the camp hovered around the delivery vehicle, creating a tense moment for operations in the village. Several dog walkers spoke of near-misses and a general sense of unease that kept families away from the nature reserve during the camp’s stay.
The reserve, owned by South Oxfordshire District Council and managed by the Earth Trust, is a haven for biodiversity, hosting more than 200 species of invertebrates alongside foxes, deer and birds such as red kites, blue tits and robins. The disturbance prompted volunteers to assist with the cleanup after the travellers departed, including removing rubbish and wood cuttings left at the site and addressing human waste that had appeared in a wooded area. Staff from the Earth Trust faced a substantial cleanup challenge as they worked to restore the site to its usual quiet, family-friendly condition.
Residents and local officials emphasized that Mowbray Fields has long been a much sought-after part of Didcot, prized for its tranquil countryside setting just outside the chocolate-box village of East Hagbourne. The episode has already sparked a broader conversation about how authorities respond to encampments on council land, the balance between safeguarding property and the rights of travellers, and the potential impacts on nearby homes valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds. As investigations continue and residents await reassurances, the community is calling for stronger deterrents to prevent a recurrence and for clearer guidance on managing future encampments in rural areas.