NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Just north of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, tourists aboard lively party pontoons glide along the Cumberland River. As they enjoy the stunning skyline, they might be surprised to spot a large group of sheep peacefully grazing on the grassy riverbank—a unique urban sight.
Zach Richardson, the urban sheepherder responsible for this unusual flock known as the Nashville Chew Crew, mentioned that tour boats often divert from their paths just to give passengers a better view of the sheep grazing nearby. “People seem to prefer watching sheep over traditional landscaping methods like mowing,” he remarked, noting the joy it brings to onlookers.
Using sheep for targeted grazing is an age-old landscaping practice receiving renewed interest in urban areas. This method addresses various land management issues, including controlling invasive species, reducing wildfire risks, protecting native plant life and wildlife habitats, and maintaining historical sites.
Nashville’s parks department brought in the Chew Crew in 2017 to assist with upkeep of Fort Negley, a historic Civil War-era fortification overwhelmed by weeds. Sheep now graze nearly 150 acres (approximately 60.7 hectares) of city-owned land each year, including the historic Nashville City Cemetery, providing a sustainable ecological solution while reducing costs associated with traditional maintenance.
“It’s an environmentally sustainable approach to managing greenspaces, often proving to be less expensive compared to manual labor or machinery,” explained Jim Hester, assistant director of Metro Nashville Parks.
Accompanying the sheep are Richardson’s loyal livestock guardian dogs—Anatolian shepherds—who remain with the flock around the clock, safeguarding them from potential intruders. The sheep are primarily a hair breed, which naturally sheds its fibers, and is often raised for meat.
Duggie, a clever border collie, also plays a crucial role. With just a few whistles and commands from Richardson, Duggie effectively manages the entire flock whenever they need to be relocated or sorted.
Across the country in California, similar initiatives have taken root. Santa Barbara has employed grazing sheep for approximately seven years, utilizing them to create land buffers aimed at mitigating wildfire risks. Monique O’Conner, an open-space planner for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, stated, “The community appreciates the grazers, finding it an engaging and innovative method of land management.”
Mark vonTillow, the wildland specialist for the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, explained how grazed areas alter fire behavior, effectively hindering its spread. “When a fire approaches a grazed section with broken-up vegetation, it can dramatically change, allowing firefighters to respond more effectively,” he noted.
Additionally, some universities have adopted similar practices, using animals such as goats and sheep for campus land management. For example, the University of Georgia tackled a privet issue in 2010 by employing goats to remove the invasive plant without using harmful chemicals. Kevin Kirsche, the university’s sustainability director, emphasized the importance of safe, environmentally friendly solutions.
Richardson, inspired by his experiences at UGA, transitioned his focus from goats to sheep after launching his own grazing business. He enjoyed the unique engagement that sheep provided in urban settings, expressing, “I’ll never own another goat. They’re like little Houdinis, impossible to contain.”
However, systems like these require careful consideration of suitable environments; O’Conner encourages public education on the reasons behind grazing location choices. Not every urban area is ideal: Chandler of City Sheep and Goat faced challenges in her community projects, where some sheep were unfortunately attacked by dogs due to electric fencing breaches.
Every so often, the flock needs relocation to encourage plant diversity and reduce the chance of predator attacks. Furthermore, concentrated Grazing can significantly impact the ecosystem, spreading seeds and altering the habitat. The city of Santa Barbara performs environmental assessments before introducing their grazers, weighing potential effects on local wildlife.
In contrast to the well-manicured areas maintained by mowers, the side of the Cumberland River where the Chew Crew roams is thriving with biodiversity. “It attracts rabbits, butterflies, groundhogs, turtles, and various nesting birds,” Richardson shared, highlighting the flourishing ecosystem resulting from the sheep’s presence.
Daily, Richardson tends to his flock and often receives photos and videos from passersby, encouraging spontaneous connections with nature. “If the sheep can inspire someone to explore their surroundings, like catching a crawdad, that’s a positive outcome,” he reflected.
