Wooly Jumpers!

I know that many people will disagree, but.....
I put SHEEP in the Highlands into Room 101. (or perhaps their owners) Why? Take a deep breath and read on.......

1. In the Highlands, sheep were deemed more profitable than people in the 1800s, and when the Highland Clearances happened, sheep took over the land.

2. When I visited the Mull of Kintyre this summer, I noticed that the sheep were contained in fields, and that wild flowers and trees were prolific. Sheep here are allowed to roam anywhere, and as a result - no flowers and no trees.

3. Sheep roam all over the roads, and cause accidents. There is no way to sue a sheep (or its owner). I have hit 2 sheep in 15 years, and have forked out £150 in damages to the car, while the sheep jumped away uninjured. I know of at least one person who has had to pay up for accidentally killing a sheep.

4. Crofters burn the heather every year, on all the hillsides. The reason? It allows for new growth of grass for the sheep to graze on. The burning causes a hellish smell, and sometimes endangers property. It also kills wee beasties and nesting birds, and any chance of flowers or trees taking root. There are laws governing the timing of this burning, but with the changing of the seasons, (and global warming?), the burning is bound to cause destruction of wild life.

5. Although sheep are allowed to roam over the road, with their lambs, and with its inherent danger, dogs are threatened with destruction if they are seen among them. It has been known for dogs to be threatened, even when no sheep are actually around.

6. If sheep get into your garden, it is YOUR fault for not having better fencing. Sheep get into the school grounds, and the playing fields are covered in sheep poo.

This shot shows a rogue sheep which has managed to get into a neighbour's croft. When it saw Dimairt, it made for the hills - in this case, the peat stack.