Sheep pastures

Currently, there are five green areas that are grazed by sheep: Rukkamäenpuisto, Kohmanpuisto, Piikahaka, Haihara and Pärrinkoski. The grazing maintains a cultural landscape with a long history of farming and promotes biodiversity. The soil in the pasture will gradually become poorer, providing more habitat for traditional grassland species. Animal dung attracts new insect and bird species. In addition, the sheep will enliven the landscape and bring joy and enjoyment to local residents. The welfare of grazing animals is ensured on a daily basis.

Good to know

To ensure the health and welfare of the animals, sheep may be kept on pasture for a maximum of five consecutive summer seasons. During the intermediate year, grazing animals such as cattle may be kept or the pasture may be maintained by mechanical mowing.

Because of the health risk to the sheep, it is strictly forbidden to walk dogs in the pasture, even outside the grazing period! Signposts inform about grazing and the ban on feeding the animals.

Rukkamäenpuisto

Rukkamäenpuisto is located near the Peltolammi-Pärrinkoski nature reserve, along the Rukkamäentie and the railway line, at Rukkamäentie 10. The area is a very old agricultural area in the vicinity of the 200-year-old Rukkamäki farm (Alarukkamäki). The area includes both open meadows and semi-open wooded areas.

In the summer of 2025, 16 sheep will graze in Rukkamäenpuisto, coming from the Huittu farm in Sastamala, Mouhijärvi. The sheep include Finnsheep, Åland sheep and Norwegian rygja sheep.

• Finnish sheep come in a variety of colours, from pure white to black.
• The Åland sheep vary a lot in colour from light, grey to black and black patterns. Åland sheep females may also have horns.
• Rygja sheep have long backs and low legs - mostly white and grey in colouring. They also have a long tail and large ears.

The management and use plan for Rukkamäenpuisto was completed in 2013, when grazing in the area also started. In the summers 2018-2019, Rukkamäki was grazed by finncattle, but in other years it was grazed by sheep. In Rukkamäki, sheep have about 2 hectares of grazing land to be cleared. The management and use plan gives details of the natural values of the area, management methods and management objectives.

Kohmanpuisto

Kohmanpuisto is an approximately 1.5 hectare grassland area located between Mediapolis and the outdoor trail around Tohloppijärvi lake. The area around lake is the most diverse and valuable green space in West Tampere and is a very popular outdoor recreation area for residents. The pasture area of Kohmanpuisto is part of an old cultural landscape with a long history of farming in the area. A management plan has been drawn up for Kohmanpuisto pasture and its management.

In summer 2025, six sheep from the Huittu farm in Sastamala will graze in Kohmanpuisto. The Finnsheep is an indigenous Finnish breed whose early ancestors arrived in Finland almost 4000 years ago. The Finnsheep is a hornless, solid-coloured breed with short tails. The most common colour is white, but there are also black, brown and, more rarely, grey individuals. Occasionally, they may have a small woolly bangs.

Piikahaka

Piikahaka sheep pasture is more than a hectare. It is located in Rahola, at the corner of Nokiantie and Tesoman valtatie. Piikahaka is an old cultural landscape where the sheep of Rahola Manor used to graze.

Eight sheep will graze in Piikahaka in the summer of 2025 with Finnsheep, Åland sheep and Norwegian rygja sheep.

Piikahaka has a very diverse vegetation. The meadows and grassland, together with the old trees, form a valuable natural and landscape complex. The spring blossoming of wood anemone is a rare aesthetic experience in an urban environment. The value of the Piikahaha is enhanced by the presence mature pine and spruce trees.

Piikahaka sheep pasture is sponsored by Tampere Energy, which supports local biodiversity.

Pärrinkoski

Pärrinkoski is old farmland and pasture land of the Pärri farm, which has partially overgrown. The Pärrinkoski stream bed divides the pasture into two parts. Pärrinkoski is grazed by a herd of eight sheep, including Finnsheep, Norwegian rygja sheep and Åland sheep.

Haihara

Five sheep grazed in Haihara, Kaukajärvi in the summer of 2025. Haihara sheep were grazing in the enclosure behind Haihara Manor. Haihara's sheep came from Haltia farm in Vesilahti.  The sheep returned to the sheepfold because the grass ran out in the pasture.

Volunteer work against invasive alien species

For several years, volunteer work against lupin in the Rukkamäenpuisto have been paying off. Every year, the roadside, which has been plowed up every year, has become home to species such as daisy, meadow goat's-beard, spreading bellflower, woundwort, blue vetch and sticky catchfly. Volunteer work is also organized in Epilänharju valued meadow and Sahanvainionpuisto.