• ‘Ewe-nique’ visitors return to Hampstead Heath.
  • Conservation grazing celebrated at iconic London site.
  • Visitors reminded to keep dogs under effective control.

Five rare-breed sheep have returned to Hampstead Heath to help boost biodiversity at the historic landscape.

A flock of Norfolk Horn and Oxford Down ewes, on loan from Mudchute City Farm, will graze the anthill site on the Heath’s Extension between 8am and 7pm each day until Monday 15 September, before being stabled locally overnight.

The project is being run by the City of London Corporation, which manages Hampstead Heath as a registered charity, in partnership with the Heath & Hampstead Society, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and Heath Hands.

Sheep were once a familiar sight on the Heath, present until the 1950s. Their return in recent years revives a traditional land management method that helps control scrub, encourage plant diversity, and create valuable habitats for wildlife including invertebrates and green woodpeckers.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, Alderman and Sheriff Gregory Jones, said:

“The return of grazing sheep is a nod to Hampstead Heath’s rich heritage, while providing real benefits for biodiversity.

“These farmyard favourites help maintain a healthy mosaic of habitats without the need for heavy machinery that could damage these sensitive ecosystems, and by nibbling around the anthills they also help provide a natural food source for green woodpeckers. 

“As a reminder, we ask visitors to keep dogs under effective control around the grazing area to ensure the safety and welfare of these animals.”

Hampstead Heath is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and forms part of 11,000 acres of open space owned and protected by the City Corporation across London and southeast England.

It attracts around 8.1 million visits every year and has won a Green Flag Award every year since 1997.

One of London’s most popular attractions, it offers extensive sports and leisure facilities, including three bathing ponds, a Lido, the newly refurbished Parliament Hill athletics track, and over a dozen pitches and courts.

ENDS

Notes to editors

ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION: 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Conservation grazing is used in many UK habitats to promote plant diversity and improve conditions for insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Norfolk Horn and Oxford Down sheep are traditional rare breeds, valued for their ability to graze tougher grasses and scrub.

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