Polish town uses a flock of sheep to keep its lawns trimmed

Record ID: 907343

  • Title: Polish town uses a flock of sheep to keep its lawns trimmed
  • Date: 22nd August 2017
  • Summary: OPOLE, POLAND (AUGUST 17, 2017) (REUTERS) ODRA RIVER BRIDGE ON THE ODER CYCLIST ON BRIDGE HOUSE ON FARM OF SHEPHERD, JAN SPIK SPIK'S FARM SHEEP IN BARN SPIK OPENING ENCLOSURE VARIOUS FLOCK OF SHEEP WALKING VARIOUS SHEEP GRAZING ON RIVER BANK (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) SHEPHERD, JAN SPIK, SAYING: "Ever since I retired I introduced these sheep here and we breed them for the sake of my health, so that I don't become mouldy. We have a task every day in the morning and evening you need to walk (the sheep) for two and a half hours. And there is also some income from this." VARIOUS SHEEP GRAZING ON RIVERBANK ANGLER SITTING AT RIVERBANK SHEEP WALKING ANGLER SPIK WITH SHEEP TRAIN CROSSING BRIDGE WORKER MOWING GRASS ON EMBANKMENT EMBANKMENT SUPERVISOR OF THE OPOLE BRANCH OF WROCLAW REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT BOARD, ABDULLAH AL-SELWI, TALKING WITH JOURNALIST WORKER MOWING GRASS (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) SUPERVISOR OF THE OPOLE BRANCH OF WROCLAW REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT BOARD, ABDULLAH AL-SELWI, SAYING: "The grazing of these sheep is an ecological alternative to mechanical grass-mowing equipment, as we can hear happening across the river. I think this is a very good method." SHEEP GRAZING ALONG ODRA RIVER
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2017 17:13
  • Keywords: sheep city landscaping Opole
  • Location: OPOLE, POLAND
  • City: OPOLE, POLAND
  • Country: Poland
  • Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016V8PAAH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Eighty year-old Jan Spik found a way to stay in good shape and earn a bonus to his retirement pension with his sheep, which graze local grass as an ecological alternative to mechanical lawn mowers.
    After Opole city limits expanded to include Spik's farm, local authorities hired him and his 250 sheep to keep the lawns along the Orda river banks tidy.
    Spik spent his whole life on a farm, but after he retired shepherding the grazing sheep became his way of keeping fit.
    Opole residents have gotten used to the sight of sheep grazing in the city which they have nicknamed "live grass mowers".
    City authorities say the sheep are a cheaper alternative to using mechanical equipment, which would generate maintenance and staffing costs far exceeding Spik's wages.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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