We have had a small flock of sheep at Epona for many years, relishing them for their company, not just the wool and meat that they offer.
A farming friend’s father shared that “sheep keep the land,” and it has been interesting to see how when you exclude them from an area, how many plants appear that otherwise they had been holding back. According to how you see those plants, this is either a blessing or a challenge!
We had been winding our flock down, having learned that unlike cattle, they can have quite a detrimental effect on the return of wild flowers (Epona when purchased was primarily “modified,” for which read not very diverse grassland), and then since learned that actually grazing them on fields in the winter can be a good balance, so we are now running our flock at Epona some of the winter months and with near neighbours the remainder if the time.
Sadly over the years chasing and harm by dogs has by an issue, so please whilst in the land, absolutely keep your dogs near you and under control.