GELDINGS: SHEEPFOLD

Since 1949, the sheepfold of Ruinen has stood on the edge of the Benderse Heide. The Benderse Heide, together with the Dwingeloosche Heide and the Kraloër Heide, forms a contiguous heath complex in the Dwingelderveld National Park. The area forms the largest wetland in Western Europe.
The sheep herd consists of approximately 300 Drenthe heath sheep. The breed is recognizable by its multicolored wool, long tail and horns. The Drenthe heath sheep was mainly kept for its manure, which was indispensable in arable farming. The long, stiff wool is of poor quality and as a meat producer, the animal is not very suitable.
Sod stuck on the heath was used as a base in the sheepfolds. The sods were placed in the sheepfold as bedding and mixed with animal excrement to form compost, which was finally taken annually to the field on the ash tree for fertilization.
With the invention of artificial fertilizer, many flocks of sheep became obsolete. Nowadays, the Drenthe heath sheep is only kept for historical reasons and for grazing heathlands in order to preserve them.

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