The golden FLEECE

Three shepherdesses share their tales of what life is like and why they love their work

- KATE CHAPMAN

Alison with her flock in the Yorkshire Dales

‘There’s something so special about lambing season

Kate Scott, 50, lives near Petworth, West Sussex, with her husband John, 55. She keeps 50 Poll Dorset and Herdwick sheep. I’ve been a shepherdess for 20 years – I enjoy its physical challenges; there’s no such word as can’t when you’re lambing. If you’ve had a difficult time with one, when you get that newborn and put its nose to its mum’s, hearing her chatter to it, it’s just wonderful. There’s nothing like the miracle of birth.

We originally ran a forestry and conservation business, which frequently took us to Wales. We loved the area so much, we decided to move there in 1999. We found a decrepit farmhouse with a couple of pastures, but shortly after moving, foot-and-mouth started. Other farmers kept sheep on the land but couldn’t come and lamb them.

We were thrown in the deep end, lambing other people’s flocks, but loved it. We got our own sheep, pigs, cows and goats, but due to the tenancy, we had to leave after 16 years.

Inspired by my family history of drovers and herbalists, which I’ve traced back to the 16th century, I trained as a herbalist. ‘I really miss the sheep and the lambing, though,’ I said to John, so I started lambing other farmers’ flocks all over the country.