Despite differing in appearance and history, the Lleyn and the Llanwenog breeds of sheep are very similar in capability, although while one — the Lleyn — has attracted the attention of commercial sheep producers, the other — the Llanwenog — has not. I often wonder why, as I feel that they are equally deserving of popularity.
Lleyn sheep
Lleyn sheep are the local breed of the area where I live, namely the Llyn Peninsular in North West Wales. Although I’ve never kept them myself (as I favour another native type of sheep — the Welsh Mountain), I have worked with some of the leading flocks, so I'm fairly familiar with the breed.
Over the past couple of decades the Lleyn sheep has risen from the ashes to become one of the most numerous purebred commercial sheep in the UK for one simple reason: it does what it says on the tin! There is nothing flashy or pretentious about the Lleyn, just good solid genetics that make it a suitable breed for a wide range of farming systems. The characteristics that have made the Lleyn so popular with commercial farmers are equally highly valued by smallscale producers, meaning that the breed is now found in flocks ranging in size from just a few ewes to several thousand, ably supported by an enthusiastic and progressive breed society.
Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
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Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av Country Smallholding.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The Secret World Of The Honey Bee
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Tip the light fantastic
The latest offering from Ifor Williams Trailers is the Single Axle Tipper, which is simply perfect for small-scale farmers
The legacy of The Good Life
The Good Life captured the public’s imagination when it first aired in 1975. On Country Smallholding’s 45th birthday, Jeremy Hobson looks at this and other programmes with a self-sufficiency slant that have captivated urban and rural dwellers alike over nearly half a century
‘The hens took shelter under the pig trailer in the paddock'
A tree Armageddon frightens poultry diarist Julian Hammer’s flock and leaves him with a mammoth clear-up job
Tools of the trade
In the second part of his mini-series on tools that are useful around the holding, Kevin Alviti takes an in-depth look at the iconic scythe, a thistle paddle and forks that were once virtually indispensable to small-scale farmers
The nightclub bouncer of the sheep world
Adam Henson waxes lyrical about the Texel, which boasts such a stocky body that it resembles a box of muscle on four legs
Buying on a tight budget
As demand for smallholdings increases and prices continue to rise, is there a way to achieve your dream without forking out a fortune? In the first part of a new mini-series, Liz Shankland explores the possibilities
Crazy for crafts
In an ordinary back garden and single paddock near Kidderminster, Kay Dalloway has created both a thriving smallholding and a successful fibre business — all while working full time for the NHS. Helen Babbs drops by to find out about her ventures
Game on
A little preparation in the autumn months will help to make the transition into winter smoother and put your garden and tools on a better footing come the spring, says Stephanie Bateman
1975 And All That
Country Smallholding is 45 this month. To celebrate, Jeremy Hobson takes a look at some of the changes — both good and bad — to small-scale farming over that near half-century
