Woolly workforce keeps grass trim in churchyard
John Devine/BBCA church verger has said he thinks his congregation is still one of the very few in England to use sheep to keep their grass trim.
For 30 years, the animals have been used to keep the grass neat at one of the graveyards at St Kyneburgha Church in Castor, near Peterborough.
"They can strip a field fairly quickly," said verger David Edwards.
A fence ensures the six sheep only graze at headstones that no longer have living relatives maintaining them.
"Therefore the sheep can roam free to their contentment," added Mr Edwards, who is verger for six other churches.
John Devine/BBCThe animals are all tagged and the rector is their official keeper.
As well as eating grass, their diet is supplemented with hay and sheep nuts.
Two shelters are available for them to avoid any inclement weather.
The historical site was once home to a Roman camp and later a monastery.
Mr Edwards said visitors had all been positive or complimentary about the sheep.
"To my knowledge nobody has ever complained about us having them," he said.
"I suppose the only consequence is that every now and then you can see a bit of wool - they quite like to rub up and down the gravestones - and every now and then you get one topple over, but that just goes with maintenance of the graveyard.
"These are just here to keep the grass down and offer some interest."
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