Grazing sheep

Paradise in the gravel pit

The Kovanda family and their (nature) protégés of the Valais blacknose sheep species(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Kovanda/Martin Hron Kovanda)

Renaturation with the help of Welsh Blacknose sheep in Gerasdorf near Vienna.

The ultimately "cemented" expansion of gravel extraction in Gerasdorf near Vienna caused quite a stir. But the family-run company, which has been operating here for 87 years, is now pushing ahead with the renaturation of once-exploited pits. "We have already planted around 8,000 trees on 50,000 square meters and created huge flower meadows. These are now valuable sources of nectar for bees," assure Leopold and Eva Kovanda with daughter Eva jun.

Sheep tend the meadow
Additional help from the British Isles is now being used to maintain the natural areas. The herd of Shropshire sheep, which has been grazing for some time, has been joined by two genuine Welsh lambs.