FAQs
What is the Aberlady Community Sheep Grazing Project?
This new community initiative is bringing sheep to the village. They’ll be helping to improve the biodiversity of Coo Park by grazing, while providing an educational resource for the community and the school.
In the future we will have news on meat and fibre products.
Where is the grazing project located?
The sheep will live in Coo Park. This is the field on Luffness Estate behind The Gardens at the east end of Aberlady. Coo park has traditionally been used for keeping livestock, and many centuries ago even the monks of the nearby friary, now in ruins, most likely kept sheep here.
It was last grazed just before the pandemic and we have restored fencing alongside the landowner to make the field suitable for stock again.
Who owns the land?
The land is owned by Luffness Estate and the sheep graze it under a one year grazing licence at present.
When will the sheep arrive?
The flock will arrive on Friday, 28 February 2025 and lambs will follow in late spring.
What is the breed of sheep and how many will there be?
There are currently 6 pregnant Soay cross ewes in the flock. They are due to begin lambing in April.
The sheep are owned by the community project and any funds from sales of stock, meat or fibre will be reinvested into the project.
How will this sheep grazing project benefit the environment?
Grazing by sheep and other animals is a well-established and effective way of improving grasslands for wildlife.
This can be achieved in a variety of ways but essentially grazing reduces the extent of certain dominating species of grasses, allowing a greater diversity of both plant species and vegetation structure.
This has knock-on benefits of a more varied fauna. We will be monitoring this change, which will inform our future grazing levels.
Where can I walk my dog?
For the sake of the wellbeing of our sheep and lambs please don’t bring dogs into the field. Instead, we would greatly appreciate it if dog walkers use Postman’s Walk, which runs along the south side of the field. We will ensure that Postman’s Walk is maintained open and clear of vegetation throughout the year.
Sheep can be easily startled and stressed by dogs, even just the presence of a well behaved one, and this can lead to injury and miscarriage.
We thank you for your cooperation.
What should I do if I see any distressed or escapee sheep?
If you ever have any concerns about the sheep please call either David or John. You can find their phone numbers on the main gates to the field.
How can I get involved?
There will be lots of chances to get involved! We aim to offer volunteering opportunities, regular events, and have plans in place to work with the school. We want to build understanding around livestock management, sustainability, and biodiversity enhancement.
It’s still early days and more information will be available soon but feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
How can I stay informed about project progress and is there a key contact?
You can keep up to date with the project by visiting this website. We’ll also post on the Aberlady News and Views Facebook page. You can contact the project directly on hello@aberlady-flock.org
