News / Environment
Could sheep be the key to conservation?
Sheep have been reintroduced to land at Chittening Warth, near Avonmouth, in a bid to protect wildlife on the site.
The large area of saltmarsh between Avonmouth Dock Estate and Severn Beach, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the sheep have been introduced to help restore the Lower Severn Vale Levels.
Cllr Asher Craig, from Bristol City Council, said: “This project is playing a vital role protecting the historic character of our natural spaces around Avonmouth and Kingsweston, whilst at the same time boosting local wildlife habitats, particularly for birds.”
is needed now More than ever
The land where the sheep will be introduced has not been grazed since the 1970’s leading to large areas being taken over by a type of grass called sea couch, reducing the diversity of the plant communities and the value of saltmarsh for bird species.
Coastal saltmarsh supports a range of specially adapted plants and is extremely important for breeding, winter and migrating birds. This is vital in the Severn Estuary which is designated a Special Protection Area (SPA), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and SSSI site due to the nationally and internationally important flocks of birds that assemble.
Read more: Protecting the coast from the threat of development
(Photo credit: Katriona McCarthy)
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