Sheep will use nature’s way to revive meadows in Royal Parks

SHEEP are to graze in London’s Royal Parks for the first time since the 1930s as part of a project to revive Britain’s wildflower meadows supported by the Prince of Wales.

From Monday, commuters crossing Green Park on their way to work will notice a small herd of rare sheep chomping through the tougher tufts of grass.

It is hoped this natural conservation method will tame the non-picturesque, dominant plants within one of the park’s two wildflower meadows, allowing flowers to flourish and a rich diversity of invertebrates to grow.

If successful, grazing sheep could soon become a common sight in central London, with provisional plans in place to introduce flocks to Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Richmond Park.

Most grasslands in the UK eventually become dense scrub or woodland if left ungrazed.

The six sheep starting their weeklong stint on Monday have been selected because they can survive on the natural vegetation alone.

With breeds including Oxford Downs, Whitefaced Woodlands and Southdowns, they will be protected by both a wooden and electric fence, with a shepherd on guard during the days.

The initiative is part of the Royal Parks Mission Invertebrate project, which has received £600,000 from the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Dr Alice Laughton, who is leading the project, said: “By increasing the biodiversity of the park grasslands, we hope to encourage the invertebrates that inhabit meadow grasslands to flourish, and it will help plan how we manage the parks in the future.”

Earlier this year the Prince of Wales urged every farmer in the country to plant at least one wildflower meadow on which cattle or sheep can live.