The Hebridean Sheep Society Summer Event 2008
Devon - 25th - 29th July 2008
Saturday 26th July
On the Saturday morning
David Grills, from the Filham Park Veterinary practice
http://www.filhamparkvets.co.uk/ , kindly gave us a 90 minute presentation
and a questions / answer session. The main focus was on Bluetongue and Foot
and Mouth - see photographs used elsewhere.
We then went into the main field in front of the ruined mansion at
Fowlescombe, with the vet, and the group inspected the main flock of around
80 ewes and this year's lambs, helped by Josh and Whisper the two working
dogs on the farm. The dog whistle blowing 'challenge' was its usual amusing
disaster ! It's not easy. The Fowlescombe web site is
The Fowlescombe Website
In the afternoon was the AGM
AGM Report (Helen Brewis)
This was held at the Summer Event. The meeting was chaired by Cathy Wainwright in Jeff's absence. Positive reports were given by the Registration and Membership Secretary and Treasurer. Jane Wilson sent her report as she was unable to attend. She has retired from the committee after over ten years service. The committee thanked her for all her hard work over the years. Helen Brewis has taken on the role.
Barry Lewis was thanked for his work on the website, which contains a lot of valuable information. It is still a work in progress and will be improved still further, with things such as a members only area.
Ear tags were once again discussed, with some not liking the metal society tags. Vicky commented that these need only be put in if a sheep is to be sold. Concerns were also raised about the forthcoming EID system (electronic tagging) which is due to be introduced in January 2010. The committee agreed to look at whether an appeal should be made against this.
Another excellent edition of the Black Sheep was available, thanks to Barry's hard work. He requested articles for the next edition.
The meeting closed and all those present went on to enjoy the many activities kindly arranged for us by Barbara and Richard Barker.
Sunday 27th July
On the Sunday morning there were various events
1. Sandy Gilbert, came and showed us natural dyeing of wool and pegboard.
Most dyes she use are from dried plants, although she did demonstrate dyeing
using a child's drink!!! Her web site is The Proud Yarns Websitewhich
shows work she has done with Manx, Hebridean and Shetland wool
2. Rosalind Barker, the daughter of Richard and Barbara, came and helped
many of us do some easy felting with primitive sheep wool
3. Jenny Godwin, from the Devon Rural Skills Trust, gave some expert tuition
in how to build a dry stone wall. They do a huge number of rural skills in
the area, and have done miles of Devon bank restoration work, hedge laying
and dry stone walling at Fowlescombe over the past 10 years - often as a
competition or training event, to keep the cost down. Their web site is
The Devon Rural Skills Trust Website
4. Liffy Robinson came along with her spinning wheel and managed to get
young and old spinning successfully at quite some speed, using washed
fleeces from the farm. Liffy is on the committee of the Devon Support Group
of the RBST, through which show often help like this -
The Devon Support Group Website
5. Hillary Burns ran a very interesting session doing basic basket making.
Anyone who had a go, went away with their finished work - some of which were
very good
6. Richard took the children off to feed the Derbyshire Redcap chickens and
they met the Golden Guernsey goats.
Then Richard and Barbara took a group pond dipping
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