#1

You might wonder where the name Wolly Willow comes from. Wolly, one of our very first sheep (pictured above) and whose name is a playful nod to the Dutch word for woolly (wollig in Dutch), was the oldest sheep of our sanctuary when she arrived. We rescued her after she developed a severe udder infection, a condition that sadly causes many owners to part with their livestock. With us, she found a loving home where she could enjoy her retirement in perfect peace. Although she has since passed away, her spirit lives on in everything we do. As a loving tribute to her and others we have lost, some of their names have been passed down to our current sheep, keeping their memories forever alive in our fields.

Today, our sanctuary is home to fourteen beautiful sheep. A few years ago, tragedy struck when we lost two-thirds of our flock in a very short period due to the devastating bluetongue virus. It was a heartbreaking time, and we honestly questioned whether we had the heart to expand our small remaining flock again.

However, we didn’t have to doubt for long. In the aftermath of the outbreak, several owners approached us asking if we could take in their surviving sheep, some of whom were left completely alone after losing their own flocks. Since sheep are deeply social herd animals, we opened our hearts and welcomed them into our family.

The Wethers (Castrated Rams)

We have three rams who were all castrated at an early age, ensuring they can stay with the flock forever while remaining incredibly gentle and sweet.

Max (fondly nicknamed Lomeus) arrived here together with his sister, Abbey. They were inseparable, but sadly, Abbey passed away. Today, Max is our oldest ram and has found a wonderful new best friend in Lilibet.

Bommel and Beer are brothers and the sons of Paddy. Both boys beautifully display the unique characteristics of the Dassenkop (badger-faced) sheep breed, inheriting their striking looks from their father’s side. You can recognize them by the classic white stripes on their heads, their "white socks," and the white marking under their tails. While they look alike, they have different personalities: Bommel is built a bit broader, while Beer is slightly smaller, just like his mother.

Mothers & Children

We are blessed with two loving mothers who have their children by their side: Paddy with Bommel & Beer, and Dibbus with Sam & Bobbe. Paddy arrived here when her twin boys were just a few months old.

Dibbus has her own special story: her previous owner had no idea she was pregnant when we took her in! Shortly after arriving, she surprised us by giving birth to Sam & Bobbe. Sam features the unmistakable markings of a Dassenkop sheep, but funny enough, her sister Bobbe is completely white. Their mother, Dibbus, is a 50% Blue Texel (Blauwe Texelaar in Dutch).

The Sisters

Paddy & Bessie are inseparable sisters, as are Snuit & Jip. Bessie fell quite ill in the summer of 2025 (in autumn we took her in), but she recovered beautifully and is now doing fantastic. Snuit & Jip are Dutch Spotted Sheep (Bonte Schapen in Dutch). Because they were raised as bottle lambs, they are incredibly tame and love human company.

The Rest of the Flock

Lilibet holds a special place in our hearts, as she is the only surviving sheep from our original flock before the bluetongue virus struck. She has been with us since she was just a few months old.

Wolly (named after our original matriarch) was brought to us at the request of a family who lost almost their entire flock to the virus. Knowing that sheep cannot survive happily alone, we welcomed this beautiful Ryeland sheep into our sanctuary.

Pils joined us when she was still very young and weak. With a lot of dedicated care, we managed to nurse her back to health, and she has been thriving ever since.

Bliksem is currently our oldest resident. Over the past two years, she has truly stepped into her role as the grand senior of the flock. She is so affectionate that she will literally follow you everywhere, always ready for a warm hug and a good scratch behind the ears.