What makes them special?
We chose Hebridean sheep because they're excellent at scrub control, preferring to browse coarse vegetation rather than flowers such as orchids and cowslips. And they'll happily eat docks, thistle flowers and nettles.
In addition, they can tolerate harsh weather and survive well on a mixed diet of plants that certain modern breeds of sheep would struggle with.
So we use them to restore and maintain areas of chalk grassland where we want to encourage the return of delicate wildflowers. They're also effective in restoring lowland heath, where they reduce the scrub that shades the heather.
How do we use them?
We move the sheep around quite a bit, using small flocks in places that are too small or unsuitable for cattle.
So you may often see them grazing on St Helens Common, at Bembridge Windmill, in Bembridge Fort on Culver Down, on Ventnor Downs, and alongside the Tennyson Trail at Freshwater Bay.