Sheep
There is plenty of animals who call Trentham Estate home, our newest addition being Jacob and Hebridean sheep!
Jacob sheep can be traced all the way back to the first Hebrew Bible. It is said that Jacob worked without wages for his uncle and father-in-law Laban, for fourteen years for the love of his wife Rachel. He agreed to continue in Laban’s service on the condition that he was allowed to keep as his share of the flock; all the speckled and spotted sheep. Hence the name Jacob sheep.
They can live all year round on what vegetation they can pull, even being capable of rooting through a foot of snow to find food. They seem to prefer grazing rough moor grass, birch scrub, bracken and balsam instead of lush grass, so Monument Walk is the perfect home for them! Our Hebridean sheep will be located in the North Park.
The land currently home to our Jacob sheep could in future be used for other rare breeds to graze, forming part of the Natural England Higher Level Stewardship scheme, an agreement which has been underway at the estate since the formation of the agreement in January 2014.
If you are walking your dog at Trentham, we ask that it is kept a short-lead at all times, other than in the dedicated dogs off lead area, to avoid any attacks on sheep which we have experienced in the past.