We have kept sheep at The Sanctuary since 1993, with our first lambs born in 1994. The 'boss' sheep is Barbara, who keeps the rest in order! Our sheep are suffolk X, a lowland hybrid bred for meat and fleece. Barbara in particular grows a very heavy fleece which one of the local farmers keeps in return for shearing them. We find that although their favourite food is roses, they will do anything for a digestive biscuit!

Each year we name the lambs with names beginning with the next letter of the alphabet. 1998 was aparticularly good year, with five 'F' lambs born - Freddie, Figaro, Francesca, Felix and Fay. 1999 was 'G' (we called the ram 'George'), and as all the lambs were destined for the freezer we called them 'George I', 'George II', 'George III' and 'George IV'.



Clare, one of our 'home-grown' sheep.

Barbara and new lamb.

In 2001, in spite of the foot and mouth crisis, we had 4 lambs - Henry was a rather large lamb and needed some help, but Henrietta arrived so fast at my feet that I jumped backwards and sat in the water bucket! Harry and Harriet arrived a week later.

In 2002 the sheep had a year off, as I had a 'little lambie' of my own...(Sarah)!
Unfortunately we lost Clare in the autumn - cause unknown. Barbara was lonely, so we bought a replacement.