THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — these Findon Chronicles are created by Valerie Martin and contain scenes from her home village of Findon,
West Sussex, U.K.    Everyday stories about real people.

THE NEPCOTE FLOCK

Copyright Valerie Martin 2010
 

click to enlarge

I first met Graham Langford at the Findon Sheep Fair in 2009 when he was busy working in the sheep pens.   

In the snow on Nepcote Green before Christmas that year, I saw him again.    He was on the way to see the flock of nine New Zealand Southdowns in the field off the Fox Down track on the way to Cissbury Ring.    The sheep are jointly owned by Chris, Martin and Graham.

I told Graham that each time I saw the little flock they raced across to me as they mistook me for him arriving with some food.

Graham emailed with a snippet of news to say..."We are hoping for some lambs in April from 5 ewes but unless we had a mobile x ray unit come round which is expensive, we will not know until then".

A month later, on the 6th January 2010, Findon received another big snowfall and the road to Cissbury Ring through Nepcote was blocked by drifting snow and vehicle access (even 4 x 4) was not possible for a number of days.

During the week that Findon was under snow, I trekked up the Fox Down track where I spied badger tracks going to and fro....and eventually reached Graham's sheep... very picturesque in the snow scene....

..... with Cissbury Ring as their back cloth.... with the Lone Tree well in evidence.

Surprise, surprise!   Here we encountered drifts 3 ft. deep on the pathway where snow had drifted over from the Findon Gallops to the north of us....

Katie walking up the Fox Down path along on top of a snowdrift.

Measuring a snowdrift.... "Didn't bring a rule with me.... so will have to guess!"

"I came across here.... I've got to make it back again".

I am up so high.   Walking on top of the frozen snowdrifts with Suzie.   The snow is over the fence posts I am pointing down towards..... I am not going to believe that this happened when summer comes.

One early in April 2010 I was on my way home and I spied the Nepcote Flock with lambs..... what a delight..........

"I'm a real cutie and I know it"

"Baaaaa... "

"This is the first day my baby has been out in the field and I'm not sure if it's safe".

GRAHAM LANGFORD EMAILED......"Hello Valerie, Yes we now have 5 lambs with more expected.

I will keep you updated.   Thanks........Graham"

A few days later I heard from Graham again....."Hello Valerie,

We had two more lambs which were born this morning making 9 lambs from 5 ewes.

7 are out now in the lower field while the two new lambs will be in the warm for a couple of days.

Having started the flock last May with 7, the flock has grown to 18 within the 1st year.

It has been a wonderful experience for us all as we have been there to see every lamb being born.  Thanks  Graham"
 

THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life around Findon.