The Trouble with Sheep

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Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

BBC Radio 4 - The Trouble with Sheep

Upland sheep are under fire - Charlotte Smith investigates what the future holds.

Some of the UK’s most iconic landscapes have been shaped by sheep for thousands of years. But upland sheep are under fire. Charlotte Smith asks, what is the trouble with sheep?

Sheep have been instrumental in creating some of the UK’s most iconic upland landscapes – from the sweeping fells of the Lake District, to the moors of Devon and Cornwall. These humble animals have left their mark on our language, our place names and even our architecture. But upland sheep are under fire.

As the farm subsidy system changes post Brexit, it’s getting harder to make money out of them. The wool is now less than profitable, and lamb consumption has decreased. Meanwhile, sheep are being criticised by many environmentalists, who say they have degraded upland habitats.

In this programme, Charlotte Smith travels from Dartmoor to North Wales, exploring the places and meeting the people who have been formed by sheep…and asking what their future holds.

What is the trouble with sheep? Answers range from being picky eaters, to getting bad press!

Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

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