The grassy slope of Žďár's Zelená hora is being grazed by sheep for the second year

Žďár nad Sázavou – Sheep are starting to graze again on Green Mountain in Žďár nad Sázavou. The grazing is intended to help protect the slope below the UNESCO monument from invasive trees and taller grass. Based on the good results of last year's first season, the grazing area on the grassy hill has now expanded from 1.2 hectares to two hectares, said Žďár Mayor Martin Mrkos (Žďár - Living Town) to ČTK today. Unlike last year, people can also walk through the fenced area with 20 sheep.

"The area has undergone certain changes in that fences made of acacia posts and mesh have been created, and the passability through the area is ensured by Texas gates," said Mrkos.

On the slope below the Church of St. John of Nepomuk, sheep are grazing again nearly 200 years later. They are on a part of the hill near the Convent Pond and the cemetery. According to the mayor, this part of the slope suffers from invasive trees and taller plants, such as reed. "That is why the hill and the meadow are eroding and degrading, and the sheep are meant to fundamentally improve management maintenance," said Mrkos. He added that experts from universities are involved in the project. The city provided 100,000 crowns for the expenses related to this year's grazing.

This afternoon, farmer Milan Daďourek from Počítek released the sheep on Green Mountain. According to him, the number of grazing animals may change depending on how much grass is on the hill. He brought only rams. He noted that there are now lambs with the ewes. "Sheep, especially if they have lambs, are relatively loud animals, while rams are much quieter, they rarely bleat," he said.

The sheep should stay on Green Mountain until autumn, provided there is enough grass for them until then. Daďourek hopes that people passing through the enclosure will behave well towards the sheep and leave them in peace in the areas marked by tape. The sheep must not be fed and dogs must not be brought to them. "I have the most concerns about the dogs. It may not seem like it, even though the animals are large, a dog can play roughly with them," said the farmer.

The pilgrimage site on Green Mountain is the work of architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichl. The church was consecrated in 1722. Green Mountain has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994.