What I can I tell you, we have snow. Is there any part of the UK that doesn’t have snow? I wonder.
The sheep in the next field seem quite unperturbed
They are fed daily, which seems to make them happy.
It took a wee while to find a sheep that would look me in the eye, as most had their backs to the wind (and wind chill).
I can vaguely remember a farmer telling me this is how sheep end up stuck in snow drifts, they keep working their way along, keeping the wind behind them, scratting for grass until they run out of field and the snow piles in behind them.
He also told me in the winter of 1963 that whilst many of his flock perished in snow drifts, some were able to survive by eating their own fleece.
But there are people better qualified to comment of sheep and snow, have a look at herdy’s blog, up in Cumbria.
We’ve just watched a cracking little programme on BBC2 about the winter of ‘63 (flighty, it is worth watching on iplayer (Winterwatch)
January 19, 2013 at 8:31 pm
Your photos are wonderful ! What a magical landscape you have and you’ve captured the beauty of the snowfall, so well.
I look forward to visiting again
January 19, 2013 at 8:52 pm
Hi Josie. We do indeed have a magical landscape right on our doorstep.
January 20, 2013 at 1:42 am
I was a student in ’63 and well remember not getting to play a single game of hockey after Christmas. That’s what I call a bad winter.
January 20, 2013 at 3:16 am
The fact that the snow that lands on the sheep’s backs doesn’t melt means that their fleece has insulated them to the point where there is no heat loss. Heat loss or no, however, they can’t survive without food. Thanks for the new word, “scrat” — not one I’ve heard before.
January 20, 2013 at 9:19 am
Such bleak beauty! Thanks for the mention, and that link which I shall probably watch later today. xx
January 20, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I remember the winter of ’63, I was a 12 year old schoolboy, I was walking the mile or so to and from school on compacted six foot snowdrifts for weeks. It was so cold my years would sting. As we say in Wales “I was there!”. Things have changed so much, now we get a flurry of snow and all the schools close, and in the 21st century? Are we making progress?
January 20, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Glad that you finally received the “gift of snow that you’d been awaiting. We usually have so much that it is really just a pain. But this year, we have had only one snowfall, and there is still about 6 in. still on the ground. Very depressing after months of not seeing the grass.
January 20, 2013 at 9:19 pm
We are very wimpy here in the UK about snow.
January 20, 2013 at 6:10 pm
Tomorrow we can take Bing out for his first proper walk – so I will arm myself with a camera as your scenes have so inspired me.
January 20, 2013 at 8:13 pm
What fun you will have!!
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January 21, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Well, we have much snow and frost over here too – but not such wonderful sheep – great photos!
January 21, 2013 at 7:32 pm
I watched the 63 documentary and it must have been horrific. My mum in law had two toddlers, and remembers sleeping in the living room with them , as the coal fire in there was the only heat source in the house. By jings, what a soft lot we’ve become!