Gathering the sheep and shearing in Dyffryn Ogwen
Gathering of the sheep off the Carneddau mountains takes place three times a year. Each is an intensely communal event, with all the farms co-operating in the gathering, as they have done over the last 200 years or so.
Gathering of the sheep off the Carneddau mountains takes place three times a year. Each is an intensely communal event, with all the farms co-operating in the gathering, as they have done over the last 200 years or so.
In the July gathering, the sheep are collected in order to be sheared. The valley is filled with the sound of dogs barking, men shouting and whistling, and sheep bleating.
In the July gathering, the sheep are collected in order to be sheared. The valley is filled with the sound of dogs barking, men shouting and whistling, and sheep bleating.
The flock is rounded up early in the morning and by around 11.00 the 1300 sheep are being moved through the valley towards the sheepfold.
The flock is rounded up early in the morning and by around 11.00 the 1300 sheep are being moved through the valley towards the sheepfold.
Farmers, on both foot and quadbike, guide the sheep towards the entrance of the sheepfold on Y Gyrn, known a Buarthau'r Gyrn. The sheepdogs help keep the flock together.
Farmers, on both foot and quadbike, guide the sheep towards the entrance of the sheepfold on Y Gyrn, known a Buarthau'r Gyrn. The sheepdogs help keep the flock together.
A wire fence guides the flock into the entrance of the sheepfold.
A wire fence guides the flock into the entrance of the sheepfold.
Once the sheep are secure in the central pens, the farmers can stop for a bite to eat.
Once the sheep are secure in the central pens, the farmers can stop for a bite to eat.
Over the next two hours, the sheep are identified by their markings and moved into each farm's cell (see here for how sheepfolds work), before each farm moves its own sheep away from the sheepfold for shearing.
Over the next two hours, the sheep are identified by their markings and moved into each farm's cell (see here for how sheepfolds work), before each farm moves its own sheep away from the sheepfold for shearing.
Shearing the sheep
Shearing the sheep
Each farm moves its own sheep to a different area for shearing. Here, Coetmor Farm has taken the sheep to a smaller fold about a mile from Y Gyrn. The ewes that need shearing are then separated from their lambs.
Each farm moves its own sheep to a different area for shearing. Here, Coetmor Farm has taken the sheep to a smaller fold about a mile from Y Gyrn. The ewes that need shearing are then separated from their lambs.
Contractors do the shearing and are paid for each fleece.
Contractors do the shearing and are paid for each fleece.
The shearers wear special leather shoes which help them grip the sheep.
The shearers wear special leather shoes which help them grip the sheep.
Blades get blunted quite quickly, especially if there is grit in the fleece.
Blades get blunted quite quickly, especially if there is grit in the fleece.
After each sheep has been sheared, they are marked with paint to identify them - in this case, DO, Dafydd Owen, Coetmor Farm.
After each sheep has been sheared, they are marked with paint to identify them - in this case, DO, Dafydd Owen, Coetmor Farm.
The fleeces are put into special large bales, before being sold - a fleece fetches hardly any money today and there is no profit in the wool.
The fleeces are put into special large bales, before being sold - a fleece fetches hardly any money today and there is no profit in the wool.
The full bales are closed by using pegs called skewers.
The full bales are closed by using pegs called skewers.
The newly shorn sheep are keen to get away, and spend the next day reuniting with their lambs, before being sent back up to the mountains for summer grazing.
The newly shorn sheep are keen to get away, and spend the next day reuniting with their lambs, before being sent back up to the mountains for summer grazing.