[clydesdaleclopper]

Just in case anyone missed this various stock from Palacerigg RBST approved park is being dispersed at the Lanark sale - Borerays, North Ronaldsays and Bagot goats https://www.rbst.org.uk/News/RBST-News/Lanark-Rare-Breeds-Sale-to-include-rarest-sheep-and-goat-breeds

[HappyHippy]

So, so sad! That park could be doing fab things for rare breeds but sadly the council don't seem to see how important it is. It doesn't seem like that long ago we fought North Lanarkshire Council to save the livestock collection (and won!) I'm sure Fleecewife will remember.......

[SallyintNorth]

And we've the same happening at our Community Farm Bill Quay in Gateshead too - also a RBST Approved Farm, with good collections of several rare breeds.

Fund-raising now, if you're moved to help. http://www.billquayfarm.org.uk/

[Fleecewife]

Oh no - I didn't know Palacerigg was shutting down after all  .  Are they putting up a fight this time, Happy Hippy? I don't have the oomph to join in if they are     They seemed to be building up their stock and now this.  They did so well at last years Smallholders Festival.   
Ah now I've read the link and I see they are not closing completely but are cutting back on the sheep and goats, but it seems they will keep the White Parks and their beautiful Eriskay ponies. Poultry too?   But for how long?

[Rosemary]

The worst organisation in the world to run somewhere like Palacerigg is a local council. It's not a core service and with budgets being as tight as they are, it will always stumble from one crisis to another. best thing that could happen would be a community buy-out.

[Fleecewife]

Any volunteers to run a campaign for that?  Local people love the place, but I wonder if there's enough of them to pay enough.

I agree the council is the wrong organisation, if only because they have such a cumbersome system.

[namethatsheep]

Schedule:

In Ring 1 at 9.30am- 314 Shetland Sheep, 43 Zwartble Sheep,

 In Ring 2 at 10am -40 Jacob,37 Ryeland,22 Boreray,10 Icelandic,24 North Ronaldsay,121 Hebridean,35 Various Other Breeds (Manx Loaghtan, Gotland, Castlemilk Moorit, Badgerfaced, Soay, Black Welsh Mountain, Polled Dorset and Easycare) 51 Cross Bred Sheep

In General Hall at 10am- 196 Cages Poultry.

In Ring 3 after poultry sale -  75 Goats, 2 Highland cows, 2 Llamas

[Anke]

Bl&&dy hell - 75 (seventy five!) goats....  and 

[sabrina]

This is so sad but lets face facts, council are pretty bad when it come to making anything work well. this needs someone who knows how to make a park like this work. I am sure done right the public would support them and make it a good day out for all. I think our rare breeds are so worth saving. What's going to happen when there are more houses than good grazing land and I am sure that day will come. going to need the rare breeds then that can do well on poor ground. Just a thought.

[bigchicken]

So sorry to here this sad news. I hope these animals go to good homes who will carry on the breeding on these rare sheep and goats. Also my best wishes go out to the staff.

[namethatsheep]

A wide range of prices at the sale:

Black Welsh mountain £40; Soay £3-£28; Ryelands £100-£300; Jacob to £150; Boreray £12 -£115; some good prices for Hebs - £320 & £440 Shearlings from Brinsop, £500 (multihorn Shearling) from Bramble Cott; Manx Loaghtan £40 (ewe lamb); Jacob to £150; Icelandic £80-£275 (but many unsold in not reaching beyond £40); Polled Dorset (tup'13) £65; Easycare £38; and N. Ronaldsay £50 - then had to leave!

£3 for Soay was not as low as a few years ago when I saw lambs selling at just £1.50!