The city of
Turin will save 30,000 euro by using herds of sheep to mow its public lawns. For the
second year in a row, sheep are being
used to trim the grass in city parks and, at the same time, save local taxpayers’
money.
A herd of
sheep graze in Meisino park, a vast
area of land along the Po River located on the eastern outskirts of the city,
while a second herd will munch the grass in Sangone park. The two herds will graze the public grounds for two
months.
The 700 sheep and 16 newborn lambs grazing Meisino park belong to Chieri shepherd
Federico Tombolato. ‘I came here last year and it worked out really well. The
city saved money and kept the park clean, while I saved money by not having to
rent fields to graze my sheep’, Tombolato said.
The sheep will
move from section to section of the parks, spending a few days grazing in
fenced-in areas. After they move on, the trimmed area will remain closed for a
short period while the grass reseeds.
‘There are
some minor inconveniences for the public but the initiative has a naturalistic
value and is even educational, allowing people, especially young people, to
come into contact with and learn more about animals’, a Turin official
commented.
Once their
work in the city is done, the sheep will head to mountain pastures.
