Environment Sheep to promote biodiversity in Winterthur
The city of Winterthur is now also employing sheep: extensive grazing of urban green spaces is intended to promote biodiversity in the urban area.
25.06.2024, 09:07
SDA
Sheep grazing has already shown positive effects on plant diversity on the meadows in the area of the Hard wastewater treatment plant, the city announced on Tuesday.
In order to further investigate the impact on biodiversity, Stadtgrün Winterthur has now commissioned Kulturhof Winterthur to carry out extensive grazing on three areas. Sheep are currently grazing in the area around the BMX track in Dättnau. In the fall, they will be used on the Gutschick school grounds and in the last quarter of the year on unused burial grounds in Rosenberg cemetery.
According to the press release, sheep help to keep certain plants such as grasses short. This allows other plant species to grow and spread. "Through their selective feeding habits, sheep create a mosaic of different habitats in a relatively small area." They also spread numerous plant seeds through their wool and droppings.
The animals are only kept in the same place for just two to three weeks. This is intended to prevent harmful overgrazing and loss of species. Two Pro-Specia-Rara breeds will initially be used: the Skudden sheep and the Bündner Oberländer sheep. According to the city, both are ideally suited for landscape conservation.
