A flock of sheep is deployed to Shoebury Old Ranges, a Site of Special Scientific Interest, to manage grassland and promote biodiversity.
Essex Wildlife Trust sent them for a project. These sheep will help fix the land there. The sheep will eat tall grass and plants. Daniel Garrun watches them regularly.
The sheep will mainly eat the plants there. It’s grassland near the coast, unique and fragile. It needs specific tender care to protect it. Sheep replace other absent animals like pigs. Those animals would naturally maintain the balance already.
The sheep are a mix of Herdwick and Shetland breeds. They will stay at the site until March ends. Daniel says sheep help the environment more than using machines or tractors.
Sheep fertilize the ground with their droppings. Also, their hooves aerate the soil nicely and naturally. This special site has rare coastal grasslands, a kind of land that is almost completely gone. Farming is easy because the soil is soft.
This site survived because it was once protected by the Ministry of Defence and Essex Wildlife Trust. The plants and animals will benefit too. This helps birds, bees, and other species live better.
Shoebury Old Ranges now hosts these sheep. The Trust brought sheep to improve the grassland, and they will eat tall grass for rare plants. This action makes room for their successful growth cycle, benefiting ground birds, owls, lizards, and bees.
The animals’ well-being comes first. Staff check them daily for their basic needs. The sheep are behind a locked fence for protection always. Please give them space and report any problems you see.