About the 'Bramble' flock of Portland Sheep

At Beer Mill Farm - Beercrocombe in Somerset U.K.

Our Rare Breed Survival Trust number is 1200

Above: some of the 'Bramble' ewes

The 'Bramble' flock of Portlands was started in the mid 1980s and is named after our house at that time, 'The Brambles' at Ash Green in Surrey. We had kept sheep for a few years before getting Portlands, starting with two elderly crossbreds with lambs at foot purchased as lawnmowers to graze the three acre garden. Over the next few years we purchased more sheep, mostly crossbreds of various types. More sheep meant more land and luckily over a number of years we were able to purchase six pieces of adjoining land, cheering up our solicitor no end with all the conveyancing fees!

Left: Hilary with Bramble Polo the Portland Champion at the 2000 RBST National Show and Sale

One day, Hilary, who at that time supervised dipping as part of her job, came home and said she seen a really interesting sheep called a Portland. We then found out a bit more about them and saw them at a couple of Rare Breed Shows. We decided to try to buy some and Hilary then wrote to every single breeder on the Rare Breed Survival list asking if we could buy some sheep. Not a single positive reply! Undaunted, we persevered, picking up the odd ewe here and there from various sources. Two expeditions stick out in particular. The first was to a Farm Park where we arrived in the dark to find the manager drunk! We were shown three ewe lambs, a pair of twins and a single which we couldn't really see but bought anyway. Not the way to buy Portlands!

When we arrived home we found one twin had a large black spot on its nose which we had thought was mud. However the single lamb turned out to be absolutely outstanding, she won numerous prizes for us and produced Champions who in turn have produced Champions. Despite her success we could never think of a name for her. We never used her pedigree name and she was called the big single when we brought her home, somehow it just stuck, and she was only ever called Big S! She was with us until she was 12 years old.

The second expedition which sticks out, was down to the West Country to a farm which probably had one of the largest flocks of Portlands at that time. They were a really nice family who lived in somewhat 'basic' conditions. The sort of house where it was difficult to decide where the yard ended and the carpet began! After drinking a cup of tea out of a mug that made you wish you had declined the offer, we were taken to see the Portlands.

A bunch of very nervous animals were herded into a barn with no handling system and then trapped in one corner, after which the owner threw himself at any sheep we wanted to look at and wrestled it to the ground. When one escaped he pinned its head to the floor with his foot as it came past him! We did purchase two ewe lambs, which, when we got them home, were as wild as any sheep could be and in fact took about a year to settle down. They both became extremely tame, demanding ewe nuts whenever we came near. One in particular produced some outstanding lambs.

Having sorted out some ewes we needed a ram. We contacted a very well known breeder and agreed to purchase a ram but when it came to collecting it we found they had sold it, "but not to worry,we have this very nice older ram for you". We now know that this was a very poor ram indeed but we did not know that at the time. You live and learn!

After using this ram for a couple of years we decided to invest in some quality. We contacted Simon and Linda Wallis who at that time lived in Sussex. They lent us a ram which we subsequently bought and at the next lambing we were amazed at the difference in the quality of the lambs, a lesson that has remained with us ever since. Money spent on a good ram is never wasted.

Left: Bramble Benjamin (Ben to his friends) a shearling (18 month) ram who is our main stock ram for the 2001/2002 lambing season.

In addition to sheep, we dabbled in other forms of livestock over the years, Dexter cattle, turkeys, chickens and various rare breed pigs Old Spots, Large Blacks and Berkshires even bees! (a disaster). The pigs were great favorites but the sheep always remained our main interest.

In the early nineties we disposed of all our other sheep and since that time we have only ever kept Portlands.

When we first started keeping sheep we joined an organisation called the Small Shepherds Club. Based mainly in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire this club is almost essential for anyone starting out keeping a few sheep, we are still proud to be members today. Every year they hold a Show for their members and in 1989 Hilary decided to enter a Portland ewe lamb. To her delight she was judged the Reserve Show Champion and embarked on her showing career. Small Shepherds Club Membership Secretary: Mrs. Jane Rickard, Rudgwick, 190, The Street, West Horsley, Surrey KT24 6HS tel. 01483 282899 (an excellent web site at www.smallshepherdsclub.org.uk )

Since then we have entered a number of shows, usually about five or six a year. We have been lucky enough to be successful at many venues including Championships at the Berkshire County Show, The Hampshire County Show, The Royal Bath and West and others as well as many Class and Best of Breed awards.

Bramble Portlands were Best of Breed at the Rare Breed Survival Trust National Show and Sale in 1996 and 2000 and won the Supreme Interbreed Championship in 1996. In Both 1996 and 1999 Bramble Portlands were National Breed Champions. We enjoy the excitement and comeraderie of showing and our favourite classes are probably the Team of Three classes with its challenge of finding three matching sheep. In the last few years we have started to enter rolled fleece competitions with some success.

In 1997 we moved to Somerset click HERE to continue