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Our favorite sheep in England is the Herdwick. The Herdwick is, in our opinion,
the most unique sheep in the world. They are short and stocky with coarse wool that is best used for rugs or attic insulation.
They are born black and gradually turn grey and then white as they age. And they live in the most beautiful country in England.
The picture below is of a Herdwick grazing on a fell above Borrowdale. We could not help but love the sturdy little
blue grey sheep.
Herdwick sheep are bred on about 120 hill farms in the Lake District of England where they have been granted protected
status. Beatrix Potter, creator of the Peter Rabbit books, fell in love with Herdwick sheep and she bought farms where she
kept her own flocks. When she died she bequeathed 15 farms, covering almost 4,000 acres, to the National Trust on the understanding
that they were allowed to continue to raise Herdwicks.
In the above picture are a pair of young (yearling) herdwick sheep on the Hardknott pass.
A Herdwick tup encountered on a walk in Borrowdale strikes a classic pose in repose near his Magpie companion.
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