Clearing Out

As winter draws closer, Liz Shankland has been looking at ways of making life less stressful at her new smallholding.

- Liz Shankland

Lots of those who attend my smallholding courses at Humble by Nature arrive with a rough idea about what kind of livestock they want to keep. Not surprisingly, most will have decided that sheep will play a major part in their land management plan, and some will even have set their hearts on a particular breed.

I warn them that, by the end of the day, I will have told them so many horror stories about things that can go wrong with sheep, they may drive home wondering why they ever thought about keeping them in the first place. My intention is never to scare people off the idea completely; it’s just that I’m a firm believer in being completely honest and up-front with people, and I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t tell them about all the disastrous experiences I’ve had over the past few decades.

Don’t get me wrong – I really like sheep, and I’ve been keeping them for a long time. They have to rank as one of the most versatile animals ever domesticated by man. Not just are they superb grass cutters, scrub clearers, and fertilising machines, they also give us wool, leather, horn, bone, and lanolin, to create a whole host of useful everyday items, and, of course, the most amazing meat and milk.

But no animal is perfect. It’s often said that sheep spend their time finding ways to get into trouble or die; as prey animals, they can be nervous, flighty, and difficult to handle, and their determination to get away from danger can get them into even more difficulty. Yes, I’ve had some great times being a shepherd, but I’ve also had some pretty miserable times, too.