THE BIRLING BLACK SHEEP PROJECT

Exciting news! We’ve recently bought some native and rare breed hill sheep to go on the fields next to the campsite.

Mostly Hebridean, with some Manx and Shetland, they are smaller and tougher than your normal white woolly sheep. They are ideally suited to leave out year-round to manage the rare chalk grassland.

Descended from Viking stock, the Hebridean have black wool and 2-4 horns (even the ewes) and are conservation grazing specialists! To quote the Hebridean Sheep Society, “They have established a reputation as the breed for the management of delicate ecosystems. Their dietary preferences are different from those of other breeds and this, coupled with their ability to thrive on vegetation with poor energy values, makes them a unique eco-management tool.”

It turns out the Hebridean’s are also ideal for mowing off the grass in vineyards, so they will be very much in demand over the coming years.

We also have a some Manx Loaghtan; a rare breed native to the Isle of Man. They are a mousy to reddish-brown colour and usually have four, or sometimes even six, horns. Often prized for their gourmet meat, so watch this space if you like some tasty lamb grilled over your campfire.

The Shetlands are also a hardy breed, mostly known for producing fine wool that is used to make Tweed and were even kept by United States President Thomas Jefferson on The White House Lawn! A good-natured breed, they also produce a good quality meat.

Something for both the conservationist and the gourmand!