A day in the life of…a shepherdess
One glorious, bright, winter day, I was lucky enough to be invited to join Vera, one of the shepherding team at Westmill. Armed with a bucket of food and – surprisingly, some digestive biscuits – we walked the site to feed Vera’s flocks and check in with the gang.
Having been at Westmill for only five years, Vera has quickly established herself and her super friendly (and cheeky!) sheep as an important feature of the Westmill site. With a plethora of knowledge about breeds, grazing conditions and all possible ovine ailments, Vera loves to share her knowledge with visitors to the site, and especially the children that so enjoy meeting the animals.
An experienced and accomplished knitter, Vera also enjoys sharing her knowledge of wool and weaving, attending events like the Oxford Real Farming conference to showcase her skills and teach others about this incredible material.
A former nurse and city dweller, Vera’s journey into shepherding was surprising, and unexpected. “I met a woman in a car park to buy a fleece”, Vera explains. “I was invited to help out on her farm and learn about sheep and when she passed away we inherited the flock. Emma was buried at Westmill, where we met Adam, and the rest is history.” With further additions to her flocks through friends and chance meetings, Vera has had to learn quickly about the various breeds that she has since acquired, including one of the oldest sheep breeds in Britain.
With four flocks now grazing at various locations on the site, Vera certainly has her hands full, but she handles the varying demands and requirements of the sheep with ease, and clearly has built up a personal relationship with each one. As she describes the various characteristics and personalities of her flocks you can see the closeness of their bond, with Vera warning me “watch out; she’s going to jump up!” just in time!
Vera’s lifestyle certainly seems like one that many of us dream of – with joy found in the simple pleasures of being outside in the elements, getting your hands dirty and feeling a part of the natural world. However, as Vera explains, along with the freedom of shepherding there is a deep commitment to the animals, and crucially:
There are no days off, not even Christmas Day!
Set on an organic farm, the location of Westmill is also pretty idyllic, with many insects, birds and wildlife found on the site, and the passing of the seasons clear to see. Walkers and runners visit the site to enjoy the peace and quiet, with the gentle swooshing of the wind turbines and birdsong to accompany them. However, one of the things that Vera does struggle with is visitors who come to the site with dogs. Despite numerous signs advising those entering Westmill to keep dogs on a lead, there are unfortunately a few who do not comply. Consequently, over the years Vera has lost some ewes and lambs, with others attacked and frightened by dogs which are out of control. As Vera points out: “If everyone follows the countryside code, with gates closed and dogs kept safely on a lead, we can all continue to enjoy the site”.
Looking ahead, Vera is making plans to move the sheep around Westmill to keep them well-fed and protected as the weather changes, and is excited about the arrival of new lambs in the Spring. She hopes to meet more visitors this year, to explain how grazing the sheep here helps to improve the biodiversity of the site, keeping the grass short and healthy and encouraging insects, and consequently birds, to Westmill.
I will certainly be coming back soon, to see the changing seasons, and spend some more time with Vera and her amazing sheep: the perfect antidote to a long day at a desk.
