On Monday morning, the sheep were brought to the green area in Maarjamõisa, which is located between the Viljandi highway and the buildings of the University of Tartu's physics and chemistry departments.

The same flock of sheep had previously twice attended the annual Supilinn Days festival, and in 2024 they briefly tended to the green area outside a local clinic.

Experience has shown that the sheep do well in urban environments and around people, so this year they have been given the opportunity to spend even more time than usual grazing in the city.

Historically the Marjamõisa are has been used as a garden with sheep often grazing there to help maintain the fields.

Within the framework of the project, experimental meadow restoration plots will also be established, providing scientists at the University of Tartu with valuable information about the creation and revitalization of field ecosystems.

The sheep and goats came from the Tootsi farm, near Elva.

Though the animals may get "homesick" sooner than expected and will need to stay in a restricted enclosure to prevent wandering, their low grazing helps smaller plants thrive and brings benefits to the urban ecosystem.

Project specialists said the animals' grazing helps control invasive plants like Canadian goldenrod, improves soil health despite sheep avoiding bitter plants like dandelions, and supports a balanced landscape while testing what wild species and people prefer in urban green spaces.

Editor's note: This piece was updated to include details once the flock had arrived in Tartu.

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