Ye Olde Videoe Clippe Threade

[xoxoxoBruce]

Is it necessary, or even practical, to move the flock through town, or just a tradition that took on a "we've-always-done-it-this-way", life of it's own.

Edit;
we can handle those sheep, heh heh heh.

[Carruthers]

Is it necessary, or even practical, to move the flock through town, or just a tradition that took on a "we've-always-done-it-this-way", life of it's own.

In this instance the pasture is only three quarters of a mile from the farm and it was the quickest and easiest way of doing it. It would take several trailer loads to do the job and probably take longer to do it when loading and waiting for the transport to return are taken into account. I think it provided a few minutes public entertainment on a dull January day, but no doubt someone complained.
There's always one...

Thanks for the wolf video, Bruce. I had the good fortune of visiting Yellowstone in 2004 and although I saw a quite staggering variety of wildlife, didn't see any wolves.
I have a vivid recollection of seeing an Osprey just by Buffalo Bill Reservoir as I was returning to Cody from my visit. It wasn't very high and as it turned towards the car I caught the piercing gaze of its eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as they are doing now at just the memory of it. Happy Days.

Osprey location.

By the way, even the sheep drive on the left over here:

[xoxoxoBruce]

Sure, much easier than trailering. I was just wondering if there was an alternate route for driving/herding rather than down High Street. If so, choosing the high Street route could be the result of (a)tradition, (b) in your face, city slickers, or even (c) I have to pick up the dry cleaning on the way.

[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Sure, much easier than trailering. I was just wondering if there was an alternate route for driving/herding rather than down High Street. If so, choosing the high Street route could be the result of (a)tradition, (b) in your face, city slickers, or even (c) I have to pick up the dry cleaning on the way.

It's the shortest and most practical route to use. The only alternative would build in more potential distractions for the sheep and traffic management would be a real headache.

There’s a right to drive livestock on a public highway with a few exceptions, the most significant being on a motorway. However, farmers will use a large helping of common sense before exercising that right especially in congested areas. Like any of us these days, they are well aware of the possibility of causing an accident or otherwise finding themselves on the receiving end of a lawsuit of some sort or another. Additionally, they’ll weigh up other pitfalls. Consequently sheep will never be moved down the High Street on a Thursday which is when the local produce market takes place. The mind boggles at the thought of the havoc likely to be caused by three hundred marauding sheep. No doubt the fruit and veg stall would be the first to succumb.

Your questions prompted me to research a bit deeper. I was aware of having seen an old postcard of sheep resting on the Manor Waste at the top of the High Street and, by the wonders of Google Images, I managed to find it. It seems that it was a regular resting place for animals en-route to the livestock market in Aylesbury. I suspect that the picture dates from about 1910 but can’t say for sure.

I've uploaded it together with a clip filched from Street View although they've appeared the wrong way round!

[xoxoxoBruce]

So it's practicality, rather than tradition or spite. Thank you Sir.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Off Maui

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Edit; we can handle those sheep, heh heh heh.

Thanks for posting the wolves-changing-the-river video, Bruce.

[xoxoxoBruce]

You're quite welcome, sir.
Remember, Wolves don't lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.

[xoxoxoBruce]