On The Cover Saving British Breeds A farmer on an important mission
Elizabeth Esse grew up on her ancestral farm, so when sheep farming became unviable there, she found a way to carry on…
Ihave such fond memories of lambing time,” says Elizabeth (56), from Stow Bardolph, Norfolk.
“I remember helping construct the lambing yard made out of straw bales in a field, where all the expectant ewes were placed to give birth together in safety. Our shepherd, Andy, would stay in a shepherd’s hut nearby so he could tend to them day and night.”
Most years produced several ‘orphan lambs’ from a set of triplets which the ewe couldn’t feed.
“Andy’s wife Jean would often take in these lambs to bottle feed,” she says. “And on one occasion a triplet was born at night and my mother, Rose Hare, brought him in the house and placed him in the bottom of the Aga with the door open to warm up!”
Elizabeth remembers that lambing at Church Farm was a big occasion for people in the village, who would often gather to watch. This proved important when, in the mid-90s, married to William and a mother of four herself, she faced the problem of their flock of 1,000 sheep no longer being commercially viable.
The Hare family had been on the same land since the 1500s and Elizabeth was determined not to lose the heritage of sheep farming.
“By chance our shepherdess
Sarah was very interested in rare breeds. She suggested we acquire some and not only invite visitors to see them, but try to make a difference to the future of those endangered,” explains Elizabeth. “We also loved the idea of educating children and knowing that we were introducing them to some very precious lambs who might save their breed from extinction.”
In the UK, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust keep records of how many of each breed remain and the ones whose bloodline is in danger. Working with them, Sarah sourced the first sheep which were later joined by rare pigs and goats. Church Farm opened as
a Rare Breed Centre in 2004.
“One of our first acquisitions was a flock of Manx Loaghton sheep – they have been around since the Iron Age and only survived because the Isle of Man was isolated,” says Elizabeth. She was soon to understand the strength of the breed, which will essentially do whatever they want.
“We had one two-horn and one four-horn ram,” she says. “We placed the two-horn in what we thought was a secure barn with the door firmly closed. However, when we returned with the other we found the first running free in the yard. He’d battered down the door and even part of the wall to get out!”
Elizabeth is also pleased to have given a home to the Norfolk Horn, an ‘at risk’ breed which was one of the inspirations behind the formation of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A particular favourite is a ewe named Jenny whom she visits daily.
“Norfolk Horns can be stubborn,” says Elizabeth. “They also don’t always make the best of mums. Jenny had to be hand-reared, but when we put her back out in the field, she would chase after our buggy trying to come back home. I really think she pined for human contact.”
Aside from sheep, Elizabeth has a soft spot for pigs and the dozens of piglets born every year. The British Lop is one of Britain’s rarest pigs, with fewer than 200 breeding sows left. Elizabeth has two, one of whom is called Ethel.
“I find pigs to be highly intelligent and the piglets are just inquisitive little rascals, always chewing, sniffing and generally getting into everything,” she says. “I love it when I stroke and cuddle them and they completely collapse in pure ecstasy. The Lop sows are also so bright and happy and great parents. Ethel is such a character and always pleased to see me!”
Elizabeth always likes to engage with her visitors. Telling children that the ancestors of the delightful ginger Tamworth pig once roamed the UK’s ancient woodlands as wild animals amazes them.
“Our Bagot goats which go back many hundreds of years are also very rare, with around 300 remaining,” says Elizabeth. “It was wonderful when we supplied some to a local man who placed them on common land to graze in the traditional way.”
Elizabeth is very proud of the hundreds of lambs, piglets and kids she has helped bring into the world, and plans to continue breeding and placing them with other working farms and centres.
“We keep an eye on the Rare Breeds Watch List and see which aren’t doing so well,” she says. “But we must try and avoid the ‘escape artists’ because the one thing rare breeds seem to have in common is their feisty, independent nature. They really are the big personalities of the farming world!”
“The piglets are just inquisitive little rascals, getting into everything”