Pompeii takes a green approach to site maintenance.

Pompeii has drafted in a flock of 150 sheep to trim the grass in green areas around the archaeological site in an experiment aimed at maintaining the Italian landmark in a sustainable way.

The sheep began their work in late November, in an unexcavated part of the Regio V area, as part of a wider agricultural initiative involving the revival of ancient vineyards.

The flock will be used to trim more inaccessible areas around the vast site, including olive groves, under the nine-month experiment.

150 pecore al pascolo nell’area verde della città antica di #Pompei, in quella vasta porzione di territorio ancora non scavato, ricoperto al di sopra della cenere e del lapillo, da una estesa vegetazione da manutenere. pic.twitter.com/00rXAvhQrU

— Pompeii Sites (@pompeii_sites) November 24, 2022

Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, hailed the green 'eco-pasture' method as both ecological and economical.

• Pompeii unveils new hidden secrets

"There is no cost or pollution" - Zuchtriegel told La Repubblica newspaper - "Grass cut in an industrial way normally becomes waste to be disposed of. Sheep, on the other hand, ingest the grass they chew and recycle it by fertilising the lawn which, rich in organic matter and microorganisms, is the best insurance against flooding and drought".

Since this morning we have one sheep more in #pompeii with our flock cutting the grass for free & with zero carbon emissions… our newcomer was born around 11 am, video from about 15 minutes after birth @pompeii_sites #archaeology #heritage #sustainability #unesco pic.twitter.com/Fedf1cNWRu

— Gabriel Zuchtriegel (@GZuchtriegel) December 9, 2022

"The greatest innovation is often a return to our roots and the most efficient technology is nature", Zuchtriegel added.

On Friday, Pompeii announced a new member of the grass-cutting team with the birth of a lamb.

• How to get to Pompeii from Rome and back

In 2018 former Rome mayor Virginia Raggi was ridiculed after she called for similar green methods involving cows and sheep being deployed to keep the capital's overgrown grass in check.

Cover image: Gabriel Zuchtriegel. Photo Pompeii archaeological park - Silvia Vacca.