In Žďár n. S., grazing helps to restore the slope under Zelená hora to the appearance of a meadow

Žďár nad Sázavou - In Žďár nad Sázavou, the grazing of sheep helps to restore the hillside of Green Mountain to its meadow-like appearance. Encroaching trees and high grasses, such as common reed, which previously thrived there, have diminished. The rams have returned to the hill under the UNESCO site for the fourth time today, grazing on more than two hectares of grass. This was said today by farmer Milan Daďourek, who arranges the grazing in agreement with the town.

Sheep were first on the hillside of Green Mountain in 2020, when the city hall stated that grazing had been restored there after nearly 200 years. Experts had previously mapped the condition of the vegetation on municipal land; according to Mayor Martin Mrkos (Žďár - Living City), they need at least five years to evaluate the effects of grazing. "That hill is relatively demanding to maintain if we want to preserve the original character of the meadow or pasture," said the mayor. He noted that there used to be a forest there, and encroaching trees had continued to appear there with some persistence.

"If you look at how the grass looks, the effect can already be recognized by the naked eye," said Daďourek. Due to the grazing by the rams, common reed has retreated from the slope. "What has completely disappeared from that area - there were many black currants, encroaching birches, and brambles - they have already nibbled," he said.

On the relatively steep slope near the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk and the cemetery, there are 26 Romney breed rams grazing. They are quieter than sheep with lambs. People can walk between the fenced pastures. The farmer has not had bad experiences with them so far. Once he encountered someone trying to feed the sheep bread. "But most people understand or have had it explained to them that it is bad for the sheep," he said. Sheep are also stressed when people pass by with dogs that are not on leashes.

Last year, the city hall paid 67,000 crowns for the grazing; otherwise, they would have to arrange for mowing with a brush cutter there.

The pilgrimage complex at 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.