Make way for the flock! Hundreds of sheep head through German city to their winter pastures

BERLIN AP Pedestrians in the German city of Nuremberg made way for hundreds of bleating sheep on Sunday as a flock of the animals was herded through downtown on its way to its winter quarters Curious bystanders cellphones in hand to capture the sight lined the streets as the roughly animals in shepherd Thomas Gackstatter s flock hurried past on what has become a popular annual spectacle The sheep were on their way to winter pastures west of Nuremberg from the city where Gackstatter s sheep and other herds are used in various meadows over the summer to keep the grass neat It s a trip of over kilometers just over miles which takes the flock through the central realm square the Hauptmarkt German news agency dpa announced Gackstatter says that as far as he knows Nuremberg is the only place in Germany where sheep cross the central square The city has about inhabitants Ahead of their passage city leadership urged people to keep the path clear and keep dogs away from the sheep a mixture of various breeds Drones weren t allowed Nuremberg isn t the only German city where sheep are used as lawnmowers They also graze in at least specific places in Berlin Potsdam Augsburg Ulm and others The sheep s slow munching makes for insect-friendly grass care helping preserve biodiversity and also saves city executives the costs of mowing And for shepherds the arrangement provides a place to put their sheep at a time when open spaces have become increasingly scarce Source