Trees Atlanta will use a herd of about 75 sheep to help control Japanese hops, kudzu and other invasive plants on the steep slope between Section 14 and the creek at the Decatur Cemetery.
“Sheep offer a low-impact solution for controlling invasive plants on sites,” said Trees Atlanta Forest Restoration Coordinator, Brian Williams. “As long as the sites do not contain sensitive or endangered plants that we want to keep safe, sheep can graze and help us eliminate invasive plants until they are gone,” he continued. Trees Atlanta is completing a 5-year woodland restoration effort in the stream corridor on the east side of the Cemetery.
The sheep are expected to begin work at Decatur Cemetery, starting on Monday, September 23. The sheep in this program are protected by a human shepherd and livestock guardian dogs, and the sites are surrounded by solar powered, low-voltage electrified fencing to keep the sheep safe and on-task while they are working. The work is expected to take 7 to 10 days at the Cemetery.
Trees Atlanta has used sheep to help eradicate invasive plants at Chastain Park, Kirkwood Forest, Morningside Nature Preserve, Candler Park, Herbert Green Nature Preserve, Perkerson Park and other green spaces in metro Atlanta. The sheep are provided by Ewe-niversally Green, a local firm that specializes in environmentally sound conservation techniques.
For more information about Trees Atlanta and Ewe-niversally Green, see www.treesatlanta.org and www.eweniversallygreen.com
Will there be a Meet The Sheep event in Decatur Cemetery or Glen Lake Park while the sheep are there?
[…] hillside between the creek and Section 14, which is on the east side of the cemetery, according to the Decatur Minute website. The sheep are expected to graze seven to 10 days, kept in check by a human shepherd, solar powered, […]
I wouldn’t recommend going to see them. You either have to go right up to the edge of the electric fence to look down the slope (really a cliff) or, from the muddy walking path below by the creek one would be far away from the kudzu and the sheep. I just came back from walking the area. Still, it’s nice that they’re doing this.
Trees Atlanta is to select the species of trees to be planted. If the tree is a replacement, it is to be the same species as the original tree, so long as the species is compatible with the planting location.
Are goats being used? We found 2 roaming around 2613 Midway Rd if you’re missing any!