Wyeswood - Lambing for beginners!

After almost 5 weeks, our new flock of Hebridean sheep have finished lambing at Pentwyn Farm. We now have a total of 29 lambs born to 24 ewes. This is the first time the Trust has lambed a flock of sheep.

Its been a steep learning curve and there have been some high and low moments as is always the case with animals. In fact I think we’ve experienced just about everything that can go wrong with lambing from abandonment, to a ewe that needed a caesarean, to weak little ones that just didn’t make it. Bringing new life into the world is rewarding in itself but helping to preserve a native, not terribly common sheep breed – particularly one with a lot of character! - adds an extra special dimension. Overall we were blessed with straight forward births and strong healthy lambs and now that it’s all over I am struggling to find excuses to stay away from the pc and the paperwork!  The Trust is really grateful to all our volunteers who helped during lambing, we couldn’t have done it without you!

Our thanks also go to the locals in Penallt many of whom kept an eye on the flock for us and were very understanding of our decision to close some parts of the reserve while lambing was ongoing. We thought it safest all round as Hebridean sheep will defend their lambs with those horns! The ewes and lambs will be grazing on Wyeswood Common throughout the summer months, but if you are walking past please remember to keep dogs under very close control. For information about the flock or to find out about becoming a volunteer sheep checker, please contact the Trust on 01600 740600.

Annette Murray
Wyeswood Common Project Officer Annette Murray on 01600 740358 or amurray@gwentwildlife.org.