The final walk

After a long few days the bulk of the ewes from our friends farm have left on the lorry. He is retiring after his family renting the farm for over 100 years. Unfortunately the estate that owns it has been very unorganised and shown their lack of knowledge and respect for a legacy. So the hefted sheep have left the hill probably never to be seen again.

All my life there has been talk of loosing a way of life. The end of hill farming and sheep leaving the hills. These conversations have always been accompanied by sad tones and shaking heads. But until it is the person next to you and the hill you have spent many hours working with friends, four legged and two. It hits hard. Never to see lambs playing on the hill, ewes watching suspiciously over the top. As the gatherers head out for the long walk "out the back" to start bringing them in.