There has been a project helping the environment in the Carshalton area. The project is run by the Downland Project Team and involves sheep. The sheep help to improve the grasslands and local habitat. A local resident and volunteer explains more.

Joe, a local resident says “the project started on 2 other fields near by a number of years ago but I started volunteering in July 2016 when the sheep were moved in to Wellfield south field. There are 6 to 8 sheep and they spend all their waking hours basically doing 2 things … eating/grazing and resting. They are very beneficial as they graze the area they are on to improve the grassland habitat. They are selective in what they eat and this helps to sustain meadow plants and habitat to thrive.” He also said “there are people who help out with the sheep and these include the team that own the sheep, who have overall care of them, and local residents. As the sheep move to different locations local residents help out by ‘keeping an eye’ on them. I believe there are about 10 volunteers that work on a rota in my area. I help out when the sheep are in Wellfield South field. I particularly like to do the mornings where I have to disarm the electric fence, climb into the field and check on the sheep to make sure none of them are injured or in distress.”

I then asked Joe why the project started, his reply was “I believe it started because the grassland where I live has  meadow land and contained special species of plants and habitat that needed to be encouraged to thrive and sheep are very good at grazing and leaving the plants that were needed, to thrive. Before the sheep the grass was mowed which made it difficult for special plants to survive.”

The sheep help the local environment and habitat and make it a nicer place for walks which is beneficial to all.