Why Are There Sheep at Ještěd?
The sheep grazing on Ještěd’s ski slopes are much more than a charming addition to the summer season. They help us care for mountain meadows naturally, maintain a diverse landscape, and support a rich variety of plants and wildlife.
Natural Landscape Management
By grazing, sheep prevent meadows from becoming overgrown with shrubs, saplings, and invasive woody vegetation. This helps keep the slopes open, grassy, and healthy. Without regular management, mountain meadows would gradually turn into forest.
Greater Biodiversity for Plants and Wildlife
Sheep do not graze evenly. Instead, they selectively feed on certain plants, creating a natural mosaic of shorter and taller vegetation. This varied habitat provides ideal conditions for many different species of plants, insects, birds, and small mammals.
They help support wildlife, for example:
- Insects such as butterflies and grasshoppers benefit from the diverse vegetation.
- Birds use shorter grass areas to forage for food.
- Small mammals and other wildlife have more shelter and hiding places.
Help Where Machines Cannot Reach
Sheep can also graze older and dry grass that is difficult to manage mechanically. This creates space for new plant growth, prevents the build-up of dead vegetation, and helps reduce the risk of wildfires.
Natural Fertilisation and Seed Dispersal
As they graze, sheep naturally return nutrients to the soil. Plant seeds can also become attached to their wool or pass through their digestive system, allowing sheep to help spread native plants across the landscape.
More Sustainable Than Mowing
Regular grazing helps control aggressive and invasive plant species that might otherwise outcompete native flora. In mountainous areas, grazing is often a more environmentally friendly and sustainable solution than mechanical mowing.
Nature’s Helpers at Ještěd
Sheep are valuable natural partners in caring for the Ještěd landscape. Thanks to their grazing, mountain meadows remain vibrant, diverse, and beautiful for future generations to enjoy. Without sheep, many of these precious grasslands would gradually disappear. Grazing also offers a gentler and more ecological alternative to mechanical maintenance methods.
