Hill farming

Windy weather, purple heather - farming the commons of the Blackstairs

Snow in April: The weather on the mountain changes quickly.

Not all sheep can be put up on the commons: The need to be be hardy enough to survive the harsh conditions op on the mountain.

Just a few moments old: The mother watches anxiously as the naval area of her newborn is treated with disinfectant. Most farmers leave the expecting ewes in the field to give birth and only bring in those that will have more that one lamb: "It's cleaner out, on the grass in the fresh air."

The afterbirth is thrown over a hedge to dry out, away from the place of birthing so that foxes will not smell it.

Recovering from being born: A healthy lamb is able to stand up and suck within a few minutes after its birth.

These dayold lambs are kept close to the house where the dogs live so that foxes will be deterred from taking them.

Maternity ward: These ewes have just given birth to several lambs each and are kept in pens for a day or two. With triples and even doubles, is is not uncommon that one of the lambs dies (left). The device (middle) is used to keep the ewe from pushing the strange lamb away that she is to foster, she might otherwise kill it. Her own lamb died the night before. "After three days, she thinks it's her own", said the farmer. Another trick is to skin the stillborn lamb and put the hide on an orphaned one like a jacket so that the ewe accepts it at her own as it smells her own. Lambs without a surrogate mother are hand-fed (right).

Bottle-feeding a hungry lamb: If the mother ewe dies while giving birth and the lamb cannot be fostered onto another sheep or if a ewe has triplets, lambs need to be fed by hand several times a day. The dogs keep an eye on the young ones.

An area of the mountainside was burnt the night before. Burning is illegal and may start vast fires that are hard to control, spreading to the surrounding tree plantations and farmland. However, it clears away old heather and shrubs and therefore allows fresh grass to come up, so many farmers believe it should be done regularly.

A healthy ewe and her lamb in a healthy landscape up on the commonage.

Pure zeal: a sheepdog can hardly contain his excitement to be let out and start working. Without a well-trained dog, having sheep on the mountain is nearly impossible.

Another dog springing into action: He just gathered a part of the flock, guided by hand and vocal signals.

Where have they gone this time? A hill farmer and his dog pondering where to go next looking for the flock as the sun is already setting.

A much-needed trip to the barber for an unhappy client: Sheep are shorn in May and June, some as early as April. They say it takes years to become an expert at shearing. "No skin on the wool, and no wool on the skin."