Eversheds to run sheep pilot scheme at new City base - APRIL FOOL!
Eversheds to run sheep pilot scheme at new City base - APRIL FOOL!" />In a bizarre turn in its campaign to create London’s greenest law office, Eversheds is to let sheep loose on the roof of its new building at One Wood Street.
The trial scheme will see four sheep used for a three-month period to maintain the grass on the building’s flat eco-roof, which is designed to prevent heat escaping through the office ceiling.
The firm has recruited an animal welfare officer, Sean Coates, who will spend the equivalent of one day each week taking care of the animals.
Coates, a former RSPCA officer who is now a freelance consultant in urban livestock management, said: “It’s important we keep the sheep in tip top condition to get the best out of them.
“They work as a team so if one of them isn’t pulling their weight, we need to make sure we’re covered.”
Coates said that the animals did not represent a danger to pedestrians in high wind, but added that the firm was insured in case of such an incident.
The decision to conduct the trial came after Eversheds undertook a lengthy consultation into ways to introduce sustainable energy methods into the new office, which will be completed in May.
The majority of partners in a partnership vote supported a trial of the grazing scheme, leading to Eversheds consulting energy experts, farmers and animal trainers about its viability.
“As well as keeping the roof trim, it’s possible we will also use their waste to fertilise plants in the firm’s new herb garden,” Coates said.
If the scheme is continued beyond the three month trial, Eversheds associates will be given the chance to name the animals in an online poll on the firm’s intranet site.
The firm yesterday also revealed that it is set to use the underwire of bras in its London office’s 160,000 sq ft of flooring (The Lawyer, 31 March).
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Readers' comments (12)
Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 9:29 am
Not so green
So what about the methane pollution that the sheep will generate - maybe Eversheds aint that green after all!
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Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 9:52 am
Sheep
Kensington Roof top Gardens have flamingos and now Eversheds are to have sheep. It's hilarious! I suspect as do some of my learned friends that this whole carbon emmissions business is a load of old pony. Why don't they just get loads of jumpers or use the wool to insulate the ceiling and let the sheep run around in a field? Have you ever seen a sheep run?...they can go!!
Sorry Eversheds baaaah-t I'm just not sure.
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Ben Williams - BJJW Offshore | 1-Apr-2008 9:58 am
Methane overreaction
To anonymous poster at 9.29am: The methane production from sheep is negligible when compared to Cows. At my old firm they tried utilising bovine receptionists. Clients were complimentary about the changes but the smell was a little overpowering and the plan was scrapped. A partner did suggest using cats as lavatory attendants but this received a vote of no confidence. I salute Eversheds for giving animal assistants another go.
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Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 10:10 am
Sheer Foolishness
Seriously, whatever will they think of next?......... Hawkes brought in to keep pigeons at bay?!
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Richard | 1-Apr-2008 10:49 am
Sheep & April 1st
It's a joke. Either that or the word "gullible" has been taken out of the dictionary.
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Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 11:45 am
Happy Aprils Fools
it has to be right?!!?
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Victor Tuborg | 1-Apr-2008 12:49 pm
Do advocates dream of electric sheep?
What's the date today?
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Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 1:23 pm
sheep
Even if it is an April Fool, the idea would not be a new one. Years ago Lucinda Lambton did a programme showing how Victorian industrialists used to keep sheep on the roof of their buildings.
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Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 4:17 pm
Sheep
So just to confirm the bra floor will support all the boobs that have resurrected this idea from VICTORIAN TIMES!! The poor sheep. Why don't they get some clones of Dolly...that way they're not really sheep are they?!
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Anonymous | 1-Apr-2008 5:00 pm
Animal Farm
Sheep running Eversheds?
Green Bras supporting the top half at Eversheds. Who would have thought it......
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