Summer with The Flock (2026#3)
As Europe swelters under the summer sun, life at Wolly Willow shifts its rhythm. Midday brings a quiet standstill, a peaceful haze where the sheep retreat to the deepest shadows we provide, resting near their fresh water troughs. But if you wake before the rest of the world, when the sun is just kissing the horizon, you find a completely different universe.
The early morning is crisp. The air is thick with the scent of wild grass and dew-soaked earth. It is in these stolen hours that Lilibet (pictured) and the rest of the flock roam free and active, their shadows stretching long across the pastures. There is a profound, quiet beauty in watching them navigate the heat with such grace.
The perfect Coat
A common misconception is that sheep must swelter in the summer if they carry a fleece. In truth, wool is a marvel of engineering: it regulates temperature, providing cooling insulation against the midday sun just as efficiently as it traps warmth in the winter. Because the flock was shorn early in April (finding shelter in the cosy barn during the crisp spring nights) they now possess the perfect summer coat. It is just long enough to act as a natural shield against sunburn and the biting insects of our marshy polder lands, yet short enough to keep them light and comfortable. Together with plenty of shade and endless fresh water, they are perfectly equipped for the golden season.
