Rosie Howes is Wakelyns Organic Lamb – she looks after the sheep at Wakelyns.

The sheep are grazed as part of the Wakelyns organic rotation.

An electric fence keeps them within one or sometimes two alleys within the agroforestry, moving – as needed – between the alleys in fertility building ley phase of the rotation.

We are hoping that the sheep will reduce the need for us to mow the ley alleys (which have previously needed to do to help with the perennial weeds), help clear some of the understorey growth beneath trees in the agroforestry tree lines, provide additional fertility for the growing, and – of course – food.

The sheep breed is “Easycare” which is a wool shedding breed with lots of special features:

• No Shearing
• Fewer Cast Ewes
• No Tail Mutilation
• Less energy diverted (feed) into wool production
• Lower labour requirements
• Easy cares are natural mothers with plenty of milk
• They usually scan from 165% to 195% depending on grass availability and the time of year they are mated
• Mature weights of 60 to 65kg
• Easy lambing
• Bred for worm resistance
• Selected for sound feet and teeth so that they last

EasyCare sheep have been developed as a low maintenance sheep, producing lambs which are lively at birth and produce a good carcase on a low input system. Shedding wool, doing away with the expense and hassle of shearing is one of their main attractions. Developed from the Wiltshire Horn “hair sheep”, crossing with other breeds has resulted in no horns, hardiness, easy lambing, good mothering ability and low veterinary requirements.

From autumn 2024, Rosie will be selling Wakelyns Organic Lamb. Watch this space!