Dave shearing
The stars of Sark’s Sheep Racing weekend began their preparation for the big event recently by loosing their winter woolly jumpers. The fourteen ewes that will run in the races were sheared by their owner Dave Scott who, with Ross Henry, not only shears all of the sheep on Sark but those on Guernsey too. The racing ewes are just over a year old and by the middle of July will sport neat summery coats about an inch long. The first few days after shearing Dave takes care not to let the ewes burn their newly exposed skin in the sun. “They’re also vulnerable to things like stinging nettles,” explains Dave, “but they soon learn!”
Sheep aren’t the only farm animals on Sark. Anyone taking a stroll around the north end of the island is likely to come across three enormous birds. The rheas, flightless birds a little smaller than ostriches, belong to Michelle Perrée. They arrived by post as eggs last year and join Michelle’s flock of guinea fowl, turkeys and various rare breeds of chicken. At Petit Beauregard Dave Scott’s Tamworth sow gave birth recently. Five of the piglets are pale with dark spots and the other two are ginger like their mother. All are enjoying the outdoor life with plenty of room to root around and do all the things that pigs love doing.
