Lineside vegetation - should we employ more sheep?

[styles]

Network Rail Scotland brought in sheep to clear up giant hogweed on the Dundee to Aberdeen line.

The sheep cleared it rapidly and the NR engineers discovered 200 boxes worth of apples and slows to pick.

Are sheep the future of line side vegetation management?

 

[testertrev]

Great stuff! Goats may be better as they will eat pretty much anything put in their way, not sure of the practicalities' though to avoid lineside incursions!

 

[Haywain]

The sheep cleared it rapidly and the NR engineers discovered 200 boxes worth of apples and slows to pick.

Slows?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Slows?

Possible typo for 'Sloes' (= the berry fruit of Blackthorn bushes)?

 

[styles]

Possible typo for 'Sloes' (= the berry fruit of Blackthorn bushes)?

Indeed, sloes. Good for syrup, or a treacle replacement.

 

[Palmerston]

I've often thought Monkey Puzzle trees are the ideal lineside vegetation.

• Hardly drop any leaves ever;
• Grow quite slow;
• Spiky enough to deter trespassers.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Humans or animals touching the plant results in blisters and severe irritation. I just wonder how sheep faces, lips and digestive systems are different.

 

[LickeyIncliner]

Humans or animals touching the plant results in blisters and severe irritation. I just wonder how sheep faces, lips and digestive systems are different.

Apparently they can eat it without harm and actually get to prefer it

https://invasivespecies.scot/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SISI-Sheep-grazing-management-guidance.pdf

 

[cats_five]

Must be fencing issues though. Don't want trains hitting them.

 

[The exile]

Must be fencing issues though. Don't want trains hitting them.

There used to be a tethered goat on the cutting side between Sydney Gardens and Bathampton Junction (by Hampton Row for the locals). The perfect circle of cropped grass was remarkable.