19th December: Goodbye to the Snook sheep

The flock of 22 sheep that have been grazing the Snook since September have now left the Reserve for the winter. It was an early start to make sure the sheep were safely rounded up into the trailer and off the Reserve before the tide  came in.

The sheep being rounded up by Jess

This flock have really grazed the dunes well, ensuring the sward will be in top condition for rare plants such as the Lindisfarne helleborine and other orchids to flourish in the summer of 2015.

A final look at the amazing impact the sheep have made to the vegetation this year:

Look at the difference between the grazed area on the right and the rank vegetation, just after moving the fence slightly to the left.

Before grazing

After grazing