Urban sheep moved to Maarjavälja

In collaboration with the University of Tartu and the city of Tartu, the green area in the Maarjamõisa district is becoming an urban nature oasis partially maintained by Gotland sheep.

The sheep arrived on the green area between Viljandi road and the Physicum and Chemicum buildings of the University of Tartu at 10 on 26 May. The same flock have been present at the Supilinn Festival for two years, and they also maintained the green area of Tartu University Hospital for a short period in 2024. This experience showed that being in the urban environment and around people suits the sheep. This year, they will have the opportunity to graze on urban pasture for longer.

In a district historically occupied by gardens and pastures, maintaining meadows with the help of sheep has been a tradition. Herbivore grazing is the best way to maintain meadow areas and keep them resistant to trampling. Additionally, the sheep bring joy to people, and everyone is welcome to make friends with them during the summer. The sheep can be petted if they agree to that, but not fed, as their digestion is delicate.

Various methods will be tested to enrich urban nature in the Maarjavälja green area, providing benefits for wildlife and a beautiful and healthy living environment for people. Experimental plots for meadow restoration are planned to be set up in Maarjavälja, providing valuable information for University of Tartu researchers on creating and restoring meadows. Also, an outdoor classroom will be constructed. Read more on the university's website.

The creation of the Maarjavälja demo area is supported by the UrbanLIFEcircles (Tartu ROHEring) project of the LIFE programme, which aims to improve the living environment for both urban nature and people.