NEWS
MARCH 2010
OUR SHEEP AND THE SCOTTISH CONNECTION IN WALES!
More than 1000 years ago, Viking settlers brought their sheep to the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland, they would have been be small, hardy sheep; most would have horns and short tails. Towards the end of the eighteenth century and into the nineteenth, this variety of small, thrifty sheep still provided the mainstay for shepherds in these regions. But gradually the agricultural revolution of the period, the development of new breeds of sheep and the clearance of many farming families from the land began to take its toll and new breeds were farmed. Early in the twentieth century, these sheep, which had been present in the region for almost a thousand years, had all but disappeared.
So here on Llwyna we are doing our bit for Hebridean sheep and we must say are very attached to them, as sheep go. The sun is out today and lovely to see it, the lambs will enjoy the heat on their backs. These good old ewes are fantastic mothers, they lamb naturally out in the fields with no help from us. ‘Wallace’ (after William Wallace) our ram is left with the flock all year, so lambing could start and finish anytime, but we feel it is more in tune with nature this way.
So why scottish sheep and a ram called William Wallace well Gordon is from Bannock Burn the famous battle ground of 1314!!!!! But that is not the only connection.
Even though our address is Llanishen we are very close to Trellech. In 1288 Trellech was the second largest town in Wales, this could have been due to the iron production for the de Clare family. A decline in the town was seen after the male line was distunguished when Gilbert de Clare was killed at the battle of Bannockburn.
So it is all Gordon’s ansestors fault that Trellech is the sleepy little village that it is today!!!!!!
JANUARY 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
Well what has Llwyna brought in the last 12 months? Lots and lots of lambs, several litters of pigs, 5 kittens, 8 little puppies and the most important of all a lovely little baby boy born at home on 4th November - all healthy and hearty.
So as we move into 2010 we look forward to seeing what the year brings
