Grazing sheep herds on the heathland, a typical image and indispensable in the Drenthe landscape. The province of Drenthe also thinks that and gives ten cheated sheep herds an additional 50,000 euros annually. Many herds already have plans ready for the use of the money, because it comes as called.
At the event of shepherds in the heart of De Heide near ‘t Zaand in Lhee, shepherds, policy makers and nature managers met today to talk about the future of the sheep herds. The existence of the herds is increasingly under pressure. This is due to, for example, animal diseases such as the blue tongue virus, wolf attacks and rising costs for feed and animal care.
With the subsidy, the province wants to support the preservation of this age -old craft and the Drenthe landscape. The budget per individual sheep herd goes from more than 53,000 euros per year to 103,000 euros. “A step in the right direction,” says Reinier van Klinken, Van Schaap herd of the Stroom Valley and Stichting Behoud Drentse Schaapskoften (SBDS).
The subsidy that makes the province available partially covers the shortages, says Albert Kerssies of the herd in Ruinen and chairman of SBDS. “Through inflation, everything has become more expensive; the food, vaccinations, maintenance, but also manpower. We notice that at the sheep herds. In recent years we have had considerable shortages, we have largely been able to catch this with volunteers who often work longer.”
In previous years, the amount has not been risen with the rising prices of livelihood of the herd, Van Klinken indicates. He therefore has a good cause for the money. “It is necessary to protect the sheep against the wolf, for which we need an extra force. For example, for placing the sheep in the WolvenPreventieraster, this takes about two hours a day. In addition, nets must be placed and the extra graters also require maintenance.”
Kerssies indicates that the subsidy is not yet enough for protection against the wolf. “There is already a subsidy for placing the rasters, but there is not enough budget for maintenance. In addition, additional measures that have been taken against the Wolf also increases cost. Think of shepherds who go up with herd protection dogs.”
For two herds in Doldersum and Hijkerveld, Roel Wiersma, from the Drenthe landscape, already has an idea that they want to spend the money on. “Thanks to the subsidy, the herds can both take on a part -time shepherd.”
They are grateful for the province, because they can use extra hands well. “In recent years, the work has become a lot more intensive, which ensures high work pressure among shepherds. Two part -time shepherds can help our regular shepherd in busy periods of the year, such as at the moment in the Lammerijd.”
At Sheep herd Holtingerveld, the new board still has to consult in consultation with the money. Chairman Piet Kerkvliet: “There are many things that the new board wants to arrange, but for this we first have to wait for all the conditions that the subsidy entails. By the summer we want to map everything together and make plans for the money.”
Joshua Bos, Herder in Bargerveen, is also happy with the subsidy: “We are grateful and of course also deliver many beautiful things back. The sheep burst the Heids, are a piece of culture and care for tourism. We mainly contribute to three key points nature management, biodiversity and the preservation of cultural heritage in Drenthe.” Something the province of Drenthe and other attendees in Lhee would like to keep for many years.