Herdwicks (sheep equivalent of hardy Shetland ponies!)
Although they look super-cute, Herdwick sheep are some of England’s toughest (kind of like the sheep equivalent of Shetland or Icelandic horses!) They live on the pastures and slopes of England’s highest mountains (all in the Lake District) so can cope with the elements pretty well.
Herdwick lambs are born black, but turn grey (just like humans!) when they get old. They have wiry wool that insulated against the wind and rain.
Around since the 12th century, today nearly all Herdwick sheep live within a short distance of the lakeside village of Coniston (below the Old Man of Coniston mountain). You can easily recognise the females, as unlike the rams, they don’t have big curly horns!
Their grazing of grass, heather, bilberry and young trees, is responsible for the unique treeless mountainsides in the Lakes.
Learn how to upright an overturned sheep (either due to pregnancy or rain-soaked wool). This will save its life.
Always give Herdwick sheep right-of-way on roads, just slow down and wait for them to pass.
Sheepeasy (invention to care for sheep feet)
Sheepeasy is a device invented by an engineer, that makes it easy and quick to treat the feet of sheep, goats and alpacas. Regular footcare is of utmost important, especially in the Lakes, due to all the rain. To help prevent footrot.
