Welcome to the first Bleatings of 2025
At the beginning of December we were hit full on by Storm Darragh. We endured 48 hours of 80mph winds with gusts of up to 115mph. All power, phones and internet were knocked out and we remained without power for 7 days. Thankfully the mobile phone signal returned after 4 days. It’s not nice feeling so cut off from the World. We had a red warning that a major storm was on our way, so all the sheep were brought down to areas where they had access to safe grazing and shed shelter. The older and more delicate sheep were already in at night time, so it was only the younger flock that needed to be brought down to the paddock shed. After 48 hours of what quite frankly felt like hell with howling wind and torrential rain, i was physically and mentally exhausted. We suffered huge damage with trees being blown down which resulted in many broken fences. The slate roof on the stone shed started to lift when the coping on the edge blew loose. I spent a good hour being constantly blown off a ladder, trying to secure the coping as i knew if that went, we’d lose the roof. Bale twine, 80mph winds and being up a ladder don’t really mix very well, but eventually i managed some sort of holding and then just prayed for the next 24 hours that it would all stay in place! Thankfully it did. Looking back on it now, i must admit i am fortunate in having a woodburner for heat, hot water and to cook on and my Nan’s old toasting fork came in very handy when making beans on toast. Childhood memories were rekindled of toast done the right way!! Another memory which makes me laugh….i came out of the shed with an empty bucket in my hand, the wind caught the bucket and lifted my up into the air like Mary Poppins and deposited me in the mud about 15 feet away. At least it was a soft landing!!! I can quite honestly say that was the worst storm i’ve ever experienced. It was truly scary. Thank goodness all the animals remained calm and safe.
I’d like to say a sincere Thank You to everyone that checked in on me, even though i couldn’t access messages for a few days.
Thank you so very much to everyone that so generously contributed to help us rebuild fences after all the damage. Work is still ongoing, clearing and repairing but hopefully everything will be sorted by the Spring.
In the last newsletter i wrote about Denis, who had an abscess in his front fetlock joint. Finally i managed to heal this. Sadly after Storm Darragh, when Denis spent several days in his shed not wanting to come out in the awful weather, he really stiffened up. His arthritic hips had been a cause of concern for a long time and i knew this Winter would be very challenging for him. On the 17th December, he refused his food and really didn’t want to get up. He told me loud and clear that he was tired and it was his time to rest. His old bones had had enough of the cold, damp weather. I made the phone call to my vet that i’d been dreading. Denis was peacefully put to sleep at 1.35pm on Wednesday 18th December with myself and his beloved Donald by his side. He was cremated by Pets in Peace Ltd in Maesteg and his ashes returned home. I have included Denis’s story as a separate post as he was such a favourite with everyone and i know will be much missed by us all.
Donald very visibly grieved for his lifelong pal. He spent 24 hours alongside his friend, refusing to leave his side. He finally took himself off into the field to graze for a couple of hours during which time Denis was moved. When Donald returned to his shed, he was sad but settled. I was worried about him. Heartbroken as i was, i knew i must remain strong for Donald and give him plenty of extra attention. I was absolutely amazed at the sentience that Donald had showed towards Denis. I realise now just how Donald had adapted his life to support Denis over the past year. I’m not sure if i’ll introduce Donald to new friends in the Spring. He seems very content with life as a single senior gent and has adapted well to being on his own and got himself into a routine. Donald has health issues of his own so i don’t want him upset or stressed in any way. Time will tell on that one.
Christmas was quiet. A dull, misty day. New Year’s day was very wet but the skies cleared in the evening and we enjoyed another show of the Northern Lights. The 4th January brought snow but thankfully it didn’t hang around for too long. January on the whole was relatively dry which was a real bonus as the last few years it’s been nothing but constant rain all Winter.
All the flock had their Winter fluke dose in January. Fluke is a nasty parasite that affects the liver and can be fatal. The fluke snail that carries the parasite thrives in damp ground and our farm is wet in the Winter so we have to be careful to dose at specific times to keep the sheep healthy.
It has been a very stormy Winter. After the destruction of Storm Darragh, we were battered by Storm Eiowyn which was very swiftly followed by Storm Herminia. No major damage was inflicted by either of these storms, just a few small branches down.
Bouncy is one of our older girls at 14 years old. She’s always been a bit of a skinny mini but as she’s aged she struggles to keep weight on and i felt she was feeling the cold when she was out in the daytime. She has been fitted up with a waterproof coat. She wasn’t too keen on it to start with but has got used to it now and it really has helped her maintain condition.
At the beginning of February, the flock all had a dose of vitamins to keep them in the best possible condition. Of the 39 sheep who call the Sanctuary home, 25 are over the age of 10, so we have a very ageing flock who need all the help we can give them to stay healthy.
On the whole, this Winter has been much drier than the previous couple of Winters. February has seen more heavy rain though and the flock have had a few barn days when i’ve taken pity on them and left them in for the day. I do love to see them all warm and settled or lined up at the hayracks contentedly munching!
Thank you to all who support the Sanctuary through the easyfundraising scheme. If you shop online and haven’t already signed up, please do check it out. It costs nothing but raises a few hundred valuable pounds for the Sanctuary each year. If you happen to be booking a holiday or purchasing insurance etc. it can raise a considerable amount for the Sanctuary. Even smaller amounts from online shopping mount up. You can even raise on grocery shopping if you do that online!
Our Sponsor a Sheep scheme is a great gift idea if you are looking for an unusual present. A lovely gift for Birthdays, Special days etc. A present that lasts a whole year. Full details can be found on the “Hoping for a friend” page.
If you would like to support the sheep by purchasing a gift from our Amazon wishlist, there are many items to choose from starting at £5. These gifts are always very gratefully received by the sheep and are such a help in supporting the flock.
http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/thewoollypatchworksheepsanctuary/?utm_campaign=raise-more
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/20FEIF88VWC3B
As February ends, the days are lengthening, the snowdrops are in full bloom, the daffodils are poking through and we turn our thoughts to blue skies and brighter, warmer days. Roll on Spring!
Thank you all for sticking with us through the good and the bad. It is much valued and appreciated.
With much love
Caroline & The Baa’s
The Woolly Patchwork Sheep Sanctuary 
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