Essex Wildlife Trust sheep return to Shoebury's Gunners Park

The specially selected sheep have been brought back to Gunners Park following a two-month stint earlier this year.

Their return has been welcomed by Shoebury residents and a Green Party campaigner who has praised the “wonderful” approach to supporting biodiversity.

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A spokesperson for the Essex Wildlife Trust, which owns the sheep and manages Gunners Park, said: “These sheep belong to the Essex Wildlife Trust, and we use them as part of our conservation work to restore the rare coastal grassland by grazing off the rough grass and thistles to provide space and light for rare plants and flowers to thrive.

“It will also improve the habitat for ground nesting birds, lizards, bees and butterflies.”

Unique - Sheep are being used to manage biodiversity at Gunners Park(Image: Essex Wildlife Trust)

According to the trust, the project is helping to restore Gunners Park’s unique ecological profile by trimming the tall grass and plants that currently dominate the landscape.

One of Essex’s last coastal grasslands, the site is home to a rare ecosystem of sand dunes and fertile soils, which can quickly become dominated by tall grasses.

Biodiversity - The ecology of Gunners Park is uniquely important(Image: Essex Wildlife Trust)

The spokesperson continued: “Animal welfare is top priority, so the sheep will be checked every single day by trained staff to make sure they are in tip-top condition.

“The sheep are behind a locked gate, so they should not come into contact with dogs or people. They are wild sheep not used to being hand-fed, and they do not need extra food.

“If you see anyone harassing the sheep, please call the police immediately on 999 or 101 to avoid delays.”

Grazing - The sheep have returned to the site following a two-month stint earlier this year(Image: Essex Wildlife Trust)

The flock first arrived at the site in February and spent two months grazing before being moved to an alternative location.

Residents on social media have shared their excitement at the return of the sheep, with some saying they had initially mistaken them for a herd of goats.

Tricia Cowdrey is a member of the Shoebury Residents’ Association and a campaigner for the Green Party in Southend.

She said: “It is great to see the sheep back at Gunners Park.  It’s well known that sheep maintain green land by selectively grazing grass and wildflowers, promoting soil fertility through their manure, and reducing the need for fossil-fuel-powered machinery.

“This not only helps create diverse wildlife habitats but also improves soil quality by adding nutrients and controls vegetation growth.”