AUBERVILLIERS: It's an idyllic scene:
sheep nibble placidly on the grass as a gaggle of children laugh in delight. But this is a highrise housing estate in the suburbs of Paris, not the tranquil countryside.
Every month, enthusiastic shepherds from an urban farming project in
Aubervilliers, just north of Paris, release their dozens-strong herd from their enclosure in a park for a wander in the streets. The goal is two-fold: to give the animals access to plants that are good for them, and to bring a little rural peace to a neighbourhood better known for dreary tower blocks and industrial sites.
"Each time it's done in good humour, they're very well behaved,"
Julie-Lou Dubreuilh, co-founder of the
Urban Shepherds cooperative, said of her flock. "You can really feel that this helps the housing estates to unwind, for the town to
de-stress."
The sheep make their way at a leisurely pace across zebra crossings, past cafes and petrol stations, stopping to graze at the base of graffitied apartment blocks. Dubreuilh said these outings were vital for the health of the sheep under the project's chemical-free farming methods.
The sheep take to the streets once a month. (AFP photo)