Kate Humble, star of BBC’s Countryfile and other popular nature programmes, borrowed a ram from the council’s farm at Ynys Hywel to mate with the ewes at her smallholding in the Wye Valley.
A ram belonging to Caerphilly county borough council in South Wales has been hand picked by a TV celebrity to help increase her flock!
Badger-Faced Welsh mountain sheep are a pedigree breed and the ram in particular was described by Kate as ‘a handsome beast with curled horns and a luxuriant fleece!’
The ram has been busy over the last few weeks mating with the flock and Kate is now eagerly awaiting the spring when her role will change from matchmaker to midwife.
The livestock at Ynys Hywel Farm are used to manage land owned by Caerphilly county borough council where grazing is more in keeping (e.g. Llancaiach Fawr living history museum in Nelson) or where there are nature conservation issues which require sensitive management (e.g. Penallta Marsh Site of Special Scientific Interest and the European designated Special Area of Conservation at Aberbargoed).
Ynys Hywel Farm is a working hill farm, owned and run by the council’s Countryside and Landscape Service. Situated in the heart of the Sirhowy Valley Country Park its 39 acres (16 hectares) are home to Welsh Black and Belted Galloway cattle, Badger-faced sheep, Tamworth pigs and a variety of chickens and ducks.
For more information visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/countryside
