Sheep shearing for summer
Today our sheep had their summer haircut!
We keep two breeds of sheep here: Hebridean and grey-faced Dartmoor. They keep the grass from growing too high and their dung attracts insects which in turn feed the birds, bats and reptiles which visit or live on the reserve. This is one of the Dartmoors. As you can see, she's carrying a lot of wool, and to make her more comfortable during summer, this needs to be shorn.
She's being shorn by Rob from Conservation Landscape Services. Her fleece, and the fleece from the other Dartmoor sheep, will go to the Natural History Museum, who own this flock. Wool from the Hebrideans, the sheep belonging to WWT London Wetland Centre, is given to the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers who meet regularly here at London Wetland Centre. You can meet them and find out more about what they do at our Traditional Crafts Weekend, 21-22 July.
Here's the sheep after her shearing. All the Dartmoors and Hebrideans have now been shorn, apart from the new Hebridean lambs who are rather too small at the moment!
