About us
The farm
Around 150 acres of lowland, the farm is located between the Clyde and the Lawhill in South Lanarkshire. We can see beautiful Tinto on the skyline when the mist has cleared.
Don’t get us wrong, it can be very wet and windy too, so don’t forget your waterproofs and wellies !
The farm is owned by Andy & Lyn Barr, both enthusiastic ‘ex’ sheep farmers that were keen to get new entrants into farming to run the place.
It’s now Laura that got a chance to run this perfect little sheep farm for a few years until she builds up her flock.
The Sheepdogs
Meg
Meg is the doyenne of the pack. At 12 years old, this old lady still works hard in the high hills and all that with style please! Don’t mistake her cute little face, she is no joke to ewes and is a very determined working dog as well as an excellent trial dog. In her time, Meg won open trials and even represented Scotland at the International Sheepdog trial. Now, even tho her age starts to show she teams up with novice handler Rebecca and keeps her success going! In everyday life, Meg is a sweet but quiet little bitch. She is respected and loved by everyone. She likes quiet stroke and less noisy people.
K'eira
K’eira, AKA Kiki, is a very joyful girl. She is Meg’s best pal and roommate. Her “panda coat” makes her easy to recognize. She loves the hills and also trial. Her little hobby is to play with the ducks. She is the best duck dog of the team! She loves loads of attention and stroke.
Twist
Twist is the only mottled dog in the kennels. She is very pretty and needy. She loves attention and although she is a good sheepdog, she loves even more people’s attention. She is the best for carrying the backpacks for picnic and adventures!
Zorg
Zorg is a big black dog with a very sweet face. He would die to get stroke and cuddles. He loves particularly children and could stay by their sides for hours! He is a great working and trial dog like his mother K’Eira. He is the number two dog for the duck show.
Pillot
Pillot is the very pretty tricoloured princess. She is young but very talented for any sort of work. She will run slowly to you and sit still against your leg until you stroke her. She is a very worthy worker and also the best pet ever as she could lie on the sofa for hours!
The Sheep
Many, many sheep! Between the ewes and the rams, we count around 500 heads! Now, it makes sense why we have so many dogs!
Actually, the dogs get even more work as they work in other farms too.
But now, let’s talk about the sheep! The flock is mainly composed of North Country Cheviots ewes. We keep some pure to renew the flock but most of them are crossed with the lovely Bluefaced Leicester (the traditional type). This mating gives us what we call “Cheviot mules”, the long legged ladies with big ears, long nose and fancy wool. They are then mated to a Texel tup to produce Texel cross lambs with good conformation.
The saying about sheep being stupid couldn’t be more inaccurate! Sheep behaviour is so rich that we could be talking about them for hours. Wild, smart and determined are probably the adjectives that describe their character the most.
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Laura H.
I’m a 35 year old sheep farmer and dog trainer. I discovered my passions at a young age when times were difficult for me.
I would like to pass on my passions, which are dogs, sheep and ponies.
As a sheepdog trainer and sheepdog coach, I love being able to pass my knowledge and love for animals.
Creating Farmigos CIC made me realize that working with children was something I really enjoyed. And I am now a part time children residential practitioner. I have certificates of First Aid, First Aid for Mental Heath, Safeguarding and PVG check. As well as Level 1 of Dyadic Developmental Parenting, certificate of Animal Therapy, Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Awareness of Autism level 1 and 2, Assessing Suicide in Kids (ASK), and Non Violent Resistance level 1.
But who are the humans?
I am a mum of 4 and we live on a predominantly sheep & cattle farm.
I founded Easter Sills Boer Goats as a diversification within the business in September 2020 & also work as School Support Assistant.
I have two lovely Welsh ponies - Tommy & Roxie, chickens, geese, of course the dogs (working & pets) & the cats.
I thoroughly enjoy helping volunteering at Farmigos and love seeing young people thriving in the farm environment.
Hi, I’m Laura. I’m a wife and mum of 2 beautiful girls. I work as a practitioner in childrens residential care. I’m a big lover of animals, I have a Labrador and a cat.
In my free time I can be found walking the dog with the kids or at the farm.