A THRIVING flock of tough rare sheep on an East Anglian nature reserve has produced 30 bouncing lambs less than a year after its arrival.Four Manx Loghtan rams and 25 ewes arrived at the Minsmere reserve last year after they were bought by RSPB as a tribute to an elderly widow – and now the flock numbers almost 60.
A THRIVING flock of tough rare sheep on an East Anglian nature reserve has produced 30 bouncing lambs less than a year after its arrival.
Four Manx Loghtan rams and 25 ewes arrived at the Minsmere reserve last year after they were bought by RSPB as a tribute to an elderly widow – and now the flock numbers almost 60.
Josephine Boraston, who died on the Isle of Anglesey aged 85, left the RSPB more than £2 million in her will.
Some of the money was spent on establishing a flock of fawn-coloured Manx Loghtans at the reserve, a type of sheep which the millionaire bred for many years.
The flock was brought in to graze the reserve's heathland area. Keeping the vegetation under control helps encourage certain species of butterfly and other insects, as well as ground nesting birds.
Ian Barthorpe, marketing and publicity officer at the reserve, said it was pleased at how the flock had settled in.
"They are doing their job in that they are helping our rabbit population to keep the vegetation down on the grass heath areas," he added.
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