This morning, Farmers Clive and Emma Hibberd delivered 5 sheep, a Wiltshire Horn and hybrids, to Cooper’s Meadow in the centre of town. The sheep will spend their summer holiday carrying out conservation grazing and will leave shortly before the Mop Fair comes to town in October.
Anna Forbes, from Action for the River Kennet, told Marlborough.news, “ I am very pleased to welcome back the sheep thanks to Clive and Emma for their support for this project. They are now a well-established community tradition.
This conservation project started over a decade ago and it is increasing the biodiversity of the meadow. It has greatly improved the area and there are lots of butterflies. We are seeing a bigger range of grasses and flowering plants, including some native wild flower species. The sheep are particularly popular with children but all ages enjoy seeing them in town.”
Anna stressed how important it is that dog walkers respect the Town Council signs. Dogs must be on the lead at all times in the area and please clear up after your dog and use the bins provided. There was a very unfortunate incident a few years ago when a dog off the lead savaged one of the ewes. The ewe did not survive.
ARK volunteers have been trained as ‘sheep lookers’ and will be checking the sheep everyday as well as checking the fencing and removing any litter from the meadow. Please do not feed the sheep.
If you have any concerns please contact Marlborough Town Council Grounds Manager on 07715639827, out of hours 07593584095 or Clive, the sheep owner, on 07437454728.
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