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Hundreds of animals from the “Shepherding with Heart” from Leimbach recently moved back into the nature reserve at the Hünfelder Weinberg.
Hünfeld – For the eleventh time, 500 sheep, 60 goats and two donkeys from the “Schäferei mit Herz” from Leimbach have moved into the nature reserve at the Hünfelder vineyard. On Sunday, May 10th, the animals arrived at the vineyard on Sunday morning, where they will now graze until the end of the grazing season – until around September, depending on the weather. As the city of Hünfeld reports, shepherd Elmar Spies welcomed numerous visitors to the official pasture drive.
Pasture expansion in Hünfeld: Hundreds of sheep move to the vineyard
The vineyard is home to one of the most important lean grasslands in the entire biosphere reserve. Both silver thistle and rhönthistle are native there, and butterflies and moths are present in great diversity. Mayor Benjamin Tschesnok thanked the Leimbach sheep farm for their commitment. The pasture drive is a great opportunity to show visitors what the vineyard has to offer with its high biodiversity. “The grazing of sheep, goats and donkeys helps to maintain the limestone grasslands as part of the nature reserve,” explained the mayor.
Elmar Herget from the Rhön Biosphere Reserve described the vineyard as a gem near the city with many orchids and rare butterflies. “The natural grazing of the vineyard ensures biodiversity and preserves the gem,” said Herget.
Sarah Spies drew attention to the shepherding year 2026 in a short lecture and focused on the important role of shepherds. Shepherds worldwide make an indispensable contribution to the preservation of the cultural landscape, the protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources. Community representative Elke Jost then blessed the sheep in the vineyard. Visitors were also offered an orchid hike with Manfred and Anni Bender. The animals are fenced in at night.
Also that one Pasture expansion at Antonius in Fulda attracted numerous visitors again this spring. They were able to witness around 100 organic cows jumping across the pasture for the first time of the year.
