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If you’ve ever taken the ferry to Governors Island and spotted a flock of woolly workers chowing down on invasive weeds like they own the place—well, they kind of did. Since 2021, five sheep named Evening, Chad, Philip Aries, Bowie and Jupiter have served as the island’s official (and most adorable) landscaping crew, keeping mugwort, phragmites and bindweed in check so native plants could thrive.
But after five productive summers and more than 15 acres of invasive species devoured, the sheep are hanging up their landscaping credentials. The Trust for Governors Island has announced that 2025 will be their farewell season.
These sheep weren’t just cute photo ops; they were eco-friendly MVPs. By targeting aggressive plants that would otherwise take over Hammock Grove, the sheep freed up thousands of hours for human horticulturists to focus on big-picture projects, like installing the walking paths and climate-resilient plantings visitors now enjoy. Unlike goats (who eat anything, including trees), sheep have a more refined palate, nibbling strategically and leaving bark untouched.
The impact was huge. In their first year alone, the sheep cleared over eight acres. Since then, they've transformed Hammock Grove into a healthier, more biodiverse green space, right next to the future home of the New York Climate Exchange, a 400,000-square-foot sustainability hub set to open in 2029.
But with the invasive species under control and the horticulture team fully executing its landscape vision, the sheep’s job here is done. They’ll likely return to Friends of Tivoli Lake Preserve and Farm in Albany after the summer ends, leaving behind a legacy of leafy lunches and gentle bleats.
This summer also marks the 20th anniversary of Governors Island opening to the public, so expect celebratory events (and some emotional goodbyes) in partnership with Tivoli Farm before the flock heads home. Stay tuned for details if you’d like to give the sheep a proper sendoff.
If you want one last glimpse of NYC’s fluffiest field crew, plan your visit now. After all, it’s not every day you meet a sheep named Philip Aries doing climate resilience work in the middle of New York Harbor.