The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2015 - Issue 39 | Page 47

Sheep

Spectacular
Sheep
showcase
returns to
Cumbria
»»Cumbria is at the heart
of the North’s sheep country
and the county will once again
be welcoming visitors to the
sector’s major biennial event
NSA North Sheep 2015.
Carrs Billington Agriculture is
the major sponsor of this year’s
event, which is being hosted
at Neil and Sally Marston’s 350
acre Millstone Moor Farm near
Cockermouth on June 3.
This traditional Lake District
farm offers something for
everyone, from the commercial
farmer to the pedigree
sheep breeder. During

the farm tours, visitors will
learn about the family’s
management techniques and
see the Marston’s renowned
Highberries Crossing Blue
Faced Leicester flock and the
top quality North of England
Mule ewe lambs, a stop for
taster refreshments will be
provided by Jennings Brewery
and Cockermouth Fudge &
Sweet Shop. There will be in
the region of 5,500 head of
sheep on the farm, a full crosssection from the hardy hill ewes
to lowland sheep, comprising of
2,000 ewes and 3,500 lambs.

‘A great
showcase for
anyone in the
sheep industry’
The packed one-day event
provides a showcase for
anyone involved in the sheep
industry with competitions,
demonstrations, seminars and
around 200 trade stands.
Key issues for the industry,
including how the recent CAP
reform will affect the uplands
and the latest in sheep health,
will be addressed across a
series of seminars. The trade
stands will include breed
societies, machinery and animal
health representatives, and
a local farmers market. The
demonstrations will combine
cutting edge technology with
traditional Lakeland skills and
crafts.

YOUNG SHEPHERD CONTEST
Once again NSA North
Sheep will host the Young
Shepherd of the Year contest,
supported by Newton Rigg
and Askham Bryan College’s
and open to individuals aged
between 16 and 26. Shearing
specialists will also be showing
their expertise in the North
of England inter-county
competition with pre entered
teams of two from Cumbria,
Lancashire, Northumberland,
Co Durham, Isle of Man, North
and East Yorkshire, and there’ll
be some fun – and some new
recipes to try – when leading
Cumbrian auctioneers take up
the challenge of a Ready, Steady
Cook-style cookery contest!
NSA North Sheep 2015 event
organiser, Julie Sedgewick
said: “This will be a tremendous
industry event, where visitors
can meet with industry experts,
visit the many trade stands and
see first-hand one of Cumbria’s
most notable flocks.”

www.farmers-mart.co.uk Apr/May 2015 47