The end of March saw us still in the grip of winter, but, thankfully, without snow in my part of the country.
The female Blackcap was still visiting the garden.
Then she left and a male started to visit.
Speculation: Has she migrated to the continent? Is he newly-arrived from southern Europe?
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| Where am I? |
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| Is this the food? |
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| Where are the others? |
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| Collared Dove in the cherry tree |
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| Pied Wagtail |
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| Robin |
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| Coot |
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| Marsh Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Mute Swan |
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| I spy ... |
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| Where do you think you dropped it? |
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| Circling |
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| Greenfinch |
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| 28 junior |
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| Meet the 18 twins |
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| Zzzzz |
These lambs are Wiltshire Horn Sheep.
"The Wiltshire Horn is a very old native
breed and up until the end of the eighteenth century was the predominant
breed to be found on the Wiltshire Downs. At this time the sheep were
able to roam freely doing well on the poor terrain which offered little
shade or protection. It is this background that has given the breed its
hardiness and resilience.
The
breed fell out of favour during the nineteenth century when the economy
became reliant* on wool. The breed was saved from extinction by a small
group of enthusiastic breeders who formed the Wiltshire Horn Sheep
Society in 1923. In the 1970s the breed came under the protection of
the RBST** because numbers were so low. In recent years the number of
registered sheep has significantly increased and so the breed has
developed into the large commercial flock it is today.
The growth in popularity of the breed is
primarily due to its ability to shed its fleece. The Wiltshire Horn
has a short fleece that naturally sheds in the spring leaving a short
hair coat. The fleece will then grow again in the autumn to offer
protection during the winter months. In an industry where wool
production has become uneconomic the advantages of self-shedding sheep
are clear to see. The labour costs associated with wool are drastically
reduced with no need to gather sheep for shearing, dagging or dipping."
(http://www.wiltshirehorn.org.uk)
My notes
* I think this should read "... less reliant ..."
** Rare Breeds Survival Trust
