In the Company of Sheep
I am working on a new book to be published by Birlinn in 2026. It will neither be a fulsome history nor a definitive guide to sheep breeds, but rather a celebration of sheep in their numerous aspects. Humorous, informative, anecdotal, and thought-provoking, it’s a personal story centring around my lifelong passion for sheep and the vital importance of the culture that surrounds them. It will include tales from livestock markets, hill farmers in England and Scotland, and island visits for a fascinating look at the northern short-tailed breeds and some of the rare breeds that are clinging on thanks to the dedicated souls supporting them. It will touch on numerous rising controversies, including the conflicts with the rewilding movement, in an endeavour for both sides to understand how working together is the way forward. This will be a book that is accessible for anyone who loves sheep, and indeed any that don’t. In reading it, doubting minds can be swayed!
