Lamb-scapers return to Conestoga College

CTV’s Karis Mapp has a story ewe need to see to believe.

Sheep are baaack at Conestoga College.

For the second straight year, Conestoga College has enlisted the help of a flock of sheep to keep their solar panel fields neatly grazed.

This year’s roster includes 35 sheep and 15 lambs.

“A lot of them were here last year so they understood right away when they got out of the trailer, where they were,” Tim Fisher, the sheep’s shepherd, said. “They were very excited to be here.”

They’ve once again been tasked with chewing away at the roughly three acres of land surrounding the school’s solar arrays.

Instead of using gas-powered landscaping equipment such as lawn mowers, the flock offers an environmentally friendly alternative.

“We no longer need to use chemical herbicides or fertilizers,” explained Graham Aikenhead, associate director of sustainable automation and energy optimization at the college.

Officials estimate the project has reduced the school’s herbicide use by approximately 60L and its fertilizer use by 160 kg.

This year, the flock is also providing an opportunity to forge connections.

“We’ve had classes out of the college. A bunch of instructors from the college have come in, staff, just to see what’s going on,” Fisher said.

Another newly discovered perk stemming from the sheep’s presence is re-naturalization in the area.

“We’ve noticed an increase in the number of insects and birds and other wildlife at the space,” said Aikenhead.

The wooly workers will be heading back home to All Sorts Acres Farm on Friday morning but will return to Conestoga for two weeks in July.