Our agricultural adventures began back in 2009 when we acquired 3 Wiltshire horn ewes (Lil, Bea and Fern) and a ram (Acrobat) They originally lived in an unused and previously very overgrown paddock of our neighbours and the following spring we were blessed with our first 5 lambs.
Fast forward 8 years, and what began as an extension of our backyard smallholding of a veggie patch and half a dozen hens, has become pretty much a full time occupation. We currently run a flock of 70 breeding ewes, a mixture of pure bred Wiltshire Horns and their purebred modern derivative, the Easycares. Both flocks are similar in that they are slow growing and produce tasty meat with a low fat content, and also in the fact that they do not require shearing as they shed their own wool.
Our lambs are sold as a mixture of pure bred animals for breeding, lamb and hogget (lamb aged 12-24 months) We are now working towards a purely pasture fed system, relying solely on grass and hay to nourish our growing flock. The animals are well suited to such a diet and there are numerous health benefits both from the meat but also for the environment in general. Our mixed species meadows are a haven for wildlife especially bees and insects and the ecosystem as a whole benefits from being managed in this way.
