Dog walkers in the Pinewoods have been warned to keep their dogs on leads after a spate of attacks left four sheep dead.

The attacks took place in a field behind RHS Harlow Carr.

The charity Pinewoods Conservation Group, which promotes the maintenance and conservation of the Pinewoods, is to put up temporary signs reminding dog walkers to keep their animals under control.

A spokesperson said:

“We are very disappointed to hear about the killing of four sheep adjacent to the Pinewoods. We would remind all dog walkers to keep their animals under control at all times.

“This does not only protect these sheep, but also our many visitors and varied wildlife. Temporary signage will be erected on the main path from RHS Harlow Carr to Harlow Moor Road to enforce this message.”

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Dogs can kill or injure sheep, even if they don’t catch them, because the stress can cause sheep to die or miscarry lambs.

Sheep fleeing from dogs are often killed or seriously injured by their panicked attempts to escape, causing damage to fences and field boundaries in the process.

Figures from farming organisation the NFU said that the cost of farm animals killed by dogs rose by over 10% last year to an estimated £1.3m.

Rebecca Davidson, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said:

“Dog attacks are easily preventable if owners keep their pets under control and on a lead when livestock may be nearby. Doing so keeps sheep and their lambs safe from harm and stops a country walk turning into carnage.”

The Masham Sheep Fair commentator is setting the scene over a PA as visitors arrive at the Market Place this morning.

The centre of Masham has been taken over for the weekend by crowds observing different breeds of sheep in pens and and farmers wearing white jackets.

He says:

“Let the Eau De Sheep waft around the town and into your nostrils.”

Susan Cunliffe-Lister set up the first Masham Sheep Fair in 1986, which was initially to raise money for farmers in Africa.

She wanted to bring back an old tradition. Until the First World War, she said sheep farmers from across the Dales used to come to Masham each year to buy and sell as many as 80,000 sheep over the course of a few days.

Mina Wilson (left), Susan Cunliffe-Lister (centre), Susan Briggs (right)

Nowadays sheep farmers from across the UK come to Masham to compete. There are other events like sheepdog trials, tours of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, morris dancing, fleece stalls even sheep racing to keep the crowds entertained.

The event raises thousands of pounds for charity each year, with this year’s pot donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Ms Cunliffe-Lister told the Stray Ferret she was determined to hold the fair this year despite uncertainty over covid.

“We were always going to try. Everybody is pleased to see each other.”

Nat Lofthouse

Lancashire farmer Kevin Gaskell is here showing his Jacob sheep, which have distinctive horns.

His best tup is called Lofthouse, which has four crossing horns that look vaguely demonic.

But with all the right markings, Kevin thinks he has the potential to be a prize winner.

Kevin Gaskell and Lofthouse the sheep.

Kevin has been coming to Masham to show sheep for six years. He’s picked up two championships, which would become three later in the morning when Lofthouse fulfills his potential and scoops the top prize.

The sheep is named after the legendary Bolton Wanderers footballer. He said:

“Nat Lofthouse is a bit of a hero”.

Masham farmer Pamela Lupton is here showing Suffolk sheep. When asked what makes a good Suffolk she said:

“It depends on the judge!”

Pamela Lupton and her Suffolk sheep.

One of her Suffolks won the top prize at The Great Yorkshire Show this summer but she said she’s most proud of her home town fair.

“This is my local and I love it here.”

Sheep-racing

At 12pm the first sheep race starts, where lines of spectators jostle to get a good view down both sides of a makeshift racetrack. A farmer waves a bucket of food which is chased by four hungry sheep towards the finishing line, which is a trough.

The sheep are given names like David Atten-baaa and Blee-ta Thunberg.

The sheep race towards the finishing line.

“It’s like the Tour de Yorkshire!” says one spectator.

For a pound, you can have a punt on the winner, with all money raised going to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

One woman waves her ticket in the air and hopes it’s a winner.

“It makes it more exciting, if it wasn’t exciting enough.”

North Yorkshire Police is appealing to the public for information after 11 sheep were stolen from a field near Boroughbridge.

According to the police, the Beltex breed of sheep were taken between November 10 and January 17.

Police are particularly interested in any suspicious sightings of vehicles on Holbeck Lane or the B6265 between these dates.

Anyone with information can call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for Ruby Rutter. Or email the officer on ruby.rutter@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote reference number 12210032203.

Read more:

• 16 sheep died after walking on frozen pond.
• Motorbike stolen from Boroughbridge, police warn residents to be vigilant after a spate of thefts.

Sixteen sheep died when they fell through broken ice on a pond in Burton Leonard yesterday.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the village at 5.30pm, when much of the Harrogate district was covered by ice and snow.

The service’s incident report said:

“A number of crews attended a large quantity of sheep that had wandered on to a frozen pond, causing the ice to break.

“Crews worked to rescue the sheep using two inflatable walkways, raft, lines, lighting, thermal imaging camera and crew power.

“Unfortunately of the 19 sheep rescued, 16 were dead.”

Rising temperatures have seen much of the snow and ice thaw today but many minor roads and pavements remain treacherous.

Steve and Clare Walmsley may well be leading the field when it comes to an unusual way of thanking the NHS.

The couple live with their teenage children Heidi and Freddie at Brooklands Farm close to the A61 Ripon to Harrogate Road near South Stainley and have a corner of a field on a raised plain has proved a prime location for catch the eye messages, such as Support British Farming and follow the Tour De Yorkshire.

Now they have taken matters to a whole new attention-grabbing level by placing a sign that reads ‘Thank You NHS’ and putting rainbows on the side of resident ewes Muffin and Milkshake, who munch the lush grass as lorries, cars, motorcyclists and cyclists pass by on the nearby road.

Steve told The Stray Ferret:

“We decided to do this because people are having a tough time at the moment and need something to smile about.”

The rainbows on Muffin, who is a Mule and Texel Cross Milkshake, were put on using an animal marker and are so far on one side of the ewes, but Steve and Clare are planning use the marker colours on the other side of each animal, so the rainbow can be seen whichever way the ewes are turning.

Clare, who has family that work in the NHS, added:

“We are so grateful for what the front line workers are going for us all, that we wanted to find a special way of saying thank you to them.”

Their decision to put the sign in the field with their rainbow sheep is clearly working, as drivers of vehicles passing by could be heard papping their horns as they went past.