Sheep in the Churchyard

Residents and visitors may have noticed that sheep have returned to the churchyard at All Saints, Sutton Mandeville. A small group of Shetlands were introduced on Easter Monday, and they are expected to remain for the foreseeable future to help manage vegetation within the churchyard.

Some longer-standing residents may recall that sheep were grazed here around twenty years ago, when this was a familiar sight in the village. Their return is being treated as a pilot to help keep the grass under control naturally, reducing the need for mowing and easing the workload on volunteers who have, for many years, cared for the churchyard.

The sheep are of the Shetland breed, which are small, hardy animals well suited to grazing a varied range of vegetation. Although they have only been present on site for a short time, there are already early signs that they are beginning to make use of the available grass, though it will take time before the full effect becomes apparent.

Residents and visitors are please asked to note a small number of practical points:

* Dogs must please be kept on a lead at all times when passing through the churchyard. A public footpath runs through the area, and following a recent incident in the village involving a sheep being killed by a dog, keeping dogs on leads is essential for the welfare of these and other animals.

* Gates must please be kept closed. The main gate from the village has been fitted with a rope and bungee mechanism intended to close it automatically, but the upper gate leading into the fields has not. Please check both gates carefully when entering or leaving.

The sheep belong to Eeva Kuisma & Nick Radford.

If any problems arise, or if the sheep are observed outside the churchyard, please call Nick on 07515 357578.