“At the moment, we have 28 ewes and a ram… whose name is Roger.
A stone's throw from the Pointe du Raz, a major site in France, below the first grassy expanses overlooking the Cabestan bay and the superb beach of Trez Goarem, stand the dunes of the same name.
Thomas Cherel, breeder based in the town of Esquibien, pampers his adorable livestock there, which he lets roam and graze in this regulated natural space.
And his charming sheep take care of the upkeep of almost 40 ha (ha) alone.
"These are
Landes de Bretagne
, a species that has almost disappeared", specifies the breeder, who won a call for projects providing him with this space, which stretches as far as the eye can see.
"We have 200 ha of land here, mainly dunes (60%) and coastal lawns, 90% of which are the property of the Conservatoire du littoral managed by the Community of communes", explains Philippe Burgevin, coordinator of natural spaces and the hike for the Cap Sizun – Pointe du Raz Community of Communes.
Beneficial for biodiversity
At the heart of this eco-grazing operation: the preservation of an entire dune massif of European interest known as “grey dunes”.
"There are birds such as the meadow pipit or the melodious linnet, but also a remarkable flora: the ochis crimson, the ophrys bee, a variety of orchids, and the famous maritime panicaut, a thistle", specifies Philippe Burgevin .
In the past, herds of black magpies, the famous Breton cows, already grazed in these dunes.
In the coming weeks, goats will come to occupy another part of the land.
The only "pet peeves" of Trez Goarem are now the dogs not kept on a leash, which frighten the herds...