Sheep to keep Paris lawns tidy

PARIS city council is to begin experimenting with using sheep from the Breton island of Ouessant to keep its lawns tidy.

The environmentally friendly approach will be tested out in the 19th arrondissement from April - replacing petrol-driven lawnmowers.

A 2,000m² area of lawn near the Paris Archives will be the first to benefit from the new approach, which also allows the council to use fewer chemicals on the lawn.

Sheep will be transported from Ouessant to Paris for brief periods between April and October. The island's sheep were chosen because of their small size, which makes it easier for them to be transported.

It could be extended to the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne if successful.