The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles and One Woman's Journey to Save Scotland's Original Sheep

by Jane Cooper

The Lost Flock  is the story of the remarkable and rare little horned sheep, known as Orkney Boreray, and the wool-obsessed woman who moved to one of Scotland’s wildest islands to save them.

It was Jane Cooper’s passion for knitting that led her to discover the world of rare-breed sheep and their wool. Through this, Jane uncovered the ‘Orkney Borerary’ – a unique group within the UK’s rarest breed of sheep, the Boreray, and one of the few surviving examples of primitive sheep in northern Europe.

As her knowledge of this rarest of heritage breeds grew, she took the bold step to uproot her quiet suburban life in Newcastle and relocate to Orkney, embarking on a new adventure and life as farmer and shepherd.

Jane was astonished to find that she was the sole custodian of this lost flock in the world, and so she began investigating their mysterious and ancient history, tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and its significance to Scotland’s natural heritage.

From Viking times to Highland crofts and nefarious research experiments in Edinburgh, this is a so-far untold real-life detective story. It is also the story of one woman’s relentless determination to ensure a future for her beloved sheep, and in doing so revealing their deep connection to the Scottish landscape.

An unforgettable story of a heritage breed and the importance of its existence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Knitting, Nature, Scotland, Animals

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 14, 2023

About the author

Jane Cooper grew up in North Warwickshire and learned to knit when she was very young. In 2010, Jane met the late Sue Blacker of the Natural Fibre Company, who wanted to get British Wool into the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so Woolsack (woolsack.org.uk) was born, which they ran together. In 2013 Jane and her husband Paul moved to Orkney and got their first Boreray sheep and in 2017, Jane discovered that she was the custodian of the last remnants of the 'Lost Flock' of Boreray sheep. To secure the long-term future of the Orkney Boreray, Jane established flocks with more (younger!) Orkney crofters and farmers, to develop products and markets and make them a profitable enterprise for everyone involved. In September 2021 Orkney Boreray mutton became Scotland's second Slow Food International Presidium. There are now eight flocks of Boreray sheep in Orkney.

Reviews

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I initially loved this, but then it became interminably dull and over-focused on the author’s personal grievances.

I love sheep. I knit voraciously and I spin my own yarn. I love sampling and spinning fibers from different sheep breeds. I love buying wool from local farmers. Simply put: I am the best possible audience for this book. So if it became boring to me (and boy, did it) then I think it’s safe to say that it missed the mark.

Still, I appreciate what Jane is doing here and her work with the preservation of rare breeds.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about heritage sheep in the orkneys and one woman's attempt to promote and develop the lost flock

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating exploration of a rare breed of sheep. It started with fleece, and ended with multiplying flocks. A few stops along the way are regenerative agriculture, Viking wool usage, the economy of the Orkney Islands, and (would it be a British memoir without it?) local council drama.

I picked this up because I am a knitter, but I also just love sheep, and the cover is fantastic. I loved hearing about Cooper's journey (even if the book did get bogged down in the details) and about Boreray sheep. They are quite hardy, interesting creatures. I'd love to toss a beet nut to one someday!

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than many of us want to know about saving an ancient breed of sheep. Good read, but an even better discussion with my friends at the Mid Atlantic Fiber Association. (https://mafafiber.org/)

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating true story about Scotland's original sheep.

[Dr. des. Siobhán · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good and informative book about the indigenous sheep of Scotland called Boreray sheep on Orkney and the woman who tries to save this lost flock. I wasn't too interested in the politics and the agriculture but the history and investigations and the stories about the sheep were great. I would love to meet them now!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a sometime spinner, and a lifetime knitter, I was drawn to this title by the premise of "saving" a flock of sheep. This is a fascinating read - not least because of the dedication of the author to her chosen course of action.

The book can be a little hard-going at times (there is a lot of factual information, as well as the tale) but it's worth a read.

Recommended for anyone who has an interest in yarn, textiles and human interest true stories.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, full review to come. Parts of the book are wonderful, specifically the parts about the sheep and their history, the Orkney landscape and biosphere, and the author's experiences raising her flock. But there are sections that bog down in too much detail regarding flock registries and missing records, and a blow-by-blow account of the difficulties in getting a local abattoir. These could have been condensed or summarized for better pacing, with the details included in appendices for use by future researchers.

Reading challenges: Audiobook Challenge 2025; COYER Out to Lunch 2025; Library Love Challenge 2025

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars, rounding up.

I found this to be a very quick and at first a very interesting read. The entire chapter on Vikings and sheep was new information to me that I gobbled up and adored. I enjoyed the insight to farming sheep in the Orkneys but by the end, it felt repetitive and I was feeling a bit tired.

[Claudine Co · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author. I had listened to a Long Thread Media podcast featuring Jane Cooper, and, enjoying her story, led me to seeking out her book. It was not available on Libby, but I finally found the audiobook version on Hoopla.
I appreciated Cooper's passion for this breed of primitive sheep, and her painstaking campaign to increase the numbers of this formerly critically endangered breed.
I’d like to re-read, or at least skim parts of, the printed version.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy read, perfect for my trip through Scotland! Although Cooper isn't the strongest writer, her passion is obvious and I loved learning all about the history and intricacies of Scottish sheep.

[Niffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Somewhere between memoir and scientific, the author takes us on a trip with her as she discovers the wonders of Boreray sheep, delves into their history, and works toward reviving the breed and having them recognized as the treasures they are.

I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author. I was a little disappointed when I started the book and heard "read by the author" because in my experience unless the author is a regular narrator or actor they typically don't do a good job. Not so with this book! Jane Cooper is phenomenal reading her own words. She put inflections in at just the right places and allowed her dry British humor to come through.

Cooper also does an amazing job of writing a book that flows easily. Whether she is talking about her initial encounter with the sheep, her research, or her work in making her farm as sustainable as possible, she presents the information in an interesting and conversational manner. She always gives credit where credit is due, and is very clear in citing her sources for her research. I definitely would like to track down a hard copy of the book to look through her list of references so that I can look up some of the books she mentions on sustainability.

The only thing that was a little difficult to read about was her decision to produce mutton. I understand why she made the decision. She ultimately is a farmer who needs to face the reality of making ends meet. She emphasizes that her goal is to make sure that the entire process is as stress free and humane as possible, but her transition from talking about her steadily expanding herd of pet sheep to her decision to produce mutton was a little abrupt.

Overall I would highly recommend this book with just a content warning about the mutton part.

[Tamhack · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a knitter who loves good yarn and sheep, I was fascinated with Jane Cooper's passion to save this little flock of sheep.
She became the sole custodian of the last remnants of a unique group of Boreray sheep, which then became her Orkney Boreray flock.

I learned much from Jane Cooper's book:
The difference between wool and hair fiber
Undercoats and outer coats
How wool allowed the Vikings to explore (without wool, the Vikings would not have the means to make the strong sails they needed)
The sheep industry
Diffences between primitive sheep and improved sheep breeds
Different sheep terms such as tupping, simmers, ewe lambs, wethers, cade lambs,etc.
The importance of community


Quotes from book:
pg: "The process of domestication is well recorded to cause behavioral and physical changes in animals, even before scientific and planned breeding created the modern, 'efficient' large white sheep we see in British fields today. For the first few thousand years, the changes in sheep due to domestication were a reduction in the size of horns and an increase in the porportion of wool in the sheep's hairy coats. The wild ancestors of domesticated sheep had large horns and short coats, predominantly of hair."


Summary: https://mrbsemporium.com/shop/books/t...
"‘A windswept love letter to Scotland’s heritage sheep and to the Orkney farming community too.’ Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment
The Lost Flock is the story of the remarkable and rare little horned sheep, known as Orkney Boreray, and the wool-obsessed woman who moved to one of Scotland’s wildest islands to save them.
It was Jane Cooper’s passion for knitting that led her to discover the world of rare-breed sheep and their wool. Through this, Jane uncovered the ‘Orkney Borerary’ – a unique group within the UK’s rarest breed of sheep, the Boreray, and one of the few surviving examples of primitive sheep in northern Europe.
As her knowledge of this rarest of heritage breeds grew, she took the bold step to uproot her quiet suburban life in Newcastle and relocate to Orkney, embarking on a new adventure and life as farmer and shepherd.
Jane was astonished to find that she was the sole custodian of this lost flock in the world, and so she began investigating their mysterious and ancient history, tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and its significance to Scotland’s natural heritage.
From Viking times to Highland crofts and nefarious research experiments in Edinburgh, this is a so-far untold real-life detective story. It is also the story of one woman’s relentless determination to ensure a future for her beloved sheep, and in doing so revealing their deep connection to the Scottish landscape.
An unforgettable story of a heritage breed and the importance of its existence.
‘Rare-breed sheep, Scotland’s most dramatic landscapes and a woman on a mission. All the perfect ingredients for an ovine true-life adventure.’ Sally Coulthard, author of A Short History of the World According to Sheep

Publisher Review
'A windswept love letter to Scotland's heritage sheep and to the Orkney farming community too. Jane Cooper gives a hands-on account of her quest to save a 'lost flock' of primitive sheep - of historic notability.' Cal Flyn, author of Islands of Abandonment 'Rare-breed sheep, Scotland's most dramatic landscapes and a woman on a mission. All the perfect ingredients for an ovine true-life adventure.' Sally Coulthard, author of A Short History of the World According to Sheep 'A delightful tale about one woman's passionate commitment to save a unique breed of sheep. Small, with hairy neck ruffs of black and tan, her chosen wards are not just any sheep; obscure and ignored by the commercial sheep farming community, Jane's flock in Orkney were in danger of dying out. The story of their enchanting history, promotion and salvation is a tribute to how individual dedication can avert the very worst of outcomes.' Derek Gow, author of Bringing Back the Beaver 'Starting with the history of the Boreray, one of our rarest sheep breeds, The Lost Flock tells the fascinating and rather romantic story of the so-called Lost Flock, a group within the breed that got left behind when the rest were added to the official register. An extremely useful and very well-written addition to the library of books on our native livestock breeds.' Christopher Price, CEO of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust 'Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Jane Cooper is deeply committed to her flock of Borerays. Cooper proves to be the ultimate ovine detective, solving the three-thousand-year mystery of the Lost Flock while simultaneously securing the future of smallhold farming in Orkney. She is a treasure to the industry and a hero to the breed.' Linda Cortright, founder of Wild Fibers magazine and author of Twisted Tales 'Jane Cooper combines intelligence, heart and passion to create a life of integrity not only for herself but for one of the rarest breeds of sheep on the planet - and, ultimately, to build a community that promotes the well-being of all its members, two-foot and four-foot, and of the earth. Her trials and triumphs offer a stellar example for others to follow in their own ways. Bravo!' Deborah Robson, coauthor of The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook 'I fell in love with this craft, these sheep, their islands, this determined woman and her story: how a knitter and spinner of wool became a shepherd and changed the fortunes of a rare and ancient breed of sheep; how, if you are bold and passionate enough to pursue, pull and 'roo' the threads of a craft, it will take you to the wildest heart of things.' Nicola Chester, author of On Gallows Down 'The Lost Flock is a hugely readable ode to obsession and how one woman's knitting project led her to fall in love with the rarest of rare breeds and follow her passion to the ends of the earth. Part history lesson, part life lesson, Jane Cooper extols the virtues of preindustrial farming and cultivating a deeper connection with food, land and biosphere. The lost flock shows the power of one committed individual to enact positive change and save part of our shared natural heritage from extinction.' Ross Barnett, author of The Missing Lynx 'There's so much interesting historical information threaded through Jane Cooper's book about her adventures to preserve the Lost Flock of Boreray.' Suzanna Crampton, author of Bodacious: The Shepherd Cat

[A L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming story of one woman's determination to save a rare breed sheep - the Orkney Boreray.

Jane did not come from a farming background, but her mother had always encouraged Jane's love of nature.

The book charts the author's journey from Newcastle where she lived with her husband, up to Orkney to acquire a small flock of Orkney Boreray sheep. Jane had always been a keen knitter and it was through her love of wool that she first heard about the breed.

Jane had much to learn about managing a flock as it grew. Tasks ranged from putting up electric fencing,,taming the sheep to come when needed, lambing, dealing with the loss of her ram Boris and taking on the council when her local abattoir was shut down.

Throughout the book, Jane's passion and affection for the breed is infectious and from her 'Lost Flock' there are now a few more flocks being established. Jane is still looking into the origins of the Orkney Boreray.

A delightful story.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

The remarkable story of the rare and ancient little horned sheep, known as Orkney Boreray and the wool obsessed woman who moved to Scotland’s wildest island to save them.
A delightful and fascinating read - loved how the book gave some factual evidence of the rare sheep breed but was also interspersed with funny moments and glimpses into her life as a farmer and shepherd.
Loved her determination and efforts, the research undertaken into the origins of the primitive breed will certainly help to secure their future.
I now want to move to a remote Scottish island and make things with real wool.
Thanks @orkneyboreray @chelseagreenbooks and @netgalley for the eARC

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different to what I expected. However it is very interesting. This is the story of a lady moving from Newcastle to the Orkneys and determined to save a rare breed of sheep.
This is the story of how she learns to manage the flock with the help and support of others who are equally interested. It is also the story of the battles small farmers have to keep going, how sneaky councils can be with the closure of abattoirs and (surprise, surprise) not quite telling the truth to the local community.

[JCS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Orkney Boreray is a rare breed sheep. The author decides to move from Newcastle to Orkney and breed her own flock. We follow her through the highs and lows of her new life and learn about her determination to ensure a future for this particular breed. This is a delightful and interesting book and a reminder of what can be achieved with a little initiative and a lot of tenacity.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story that Jane Cooper has to tell about her Boreray sheep is worthy of five stars. Unfortunately the author is not a natural story teller so that the rambling and repetitive nature of the narrative bring it down to three stars.
It’s still an interesting read

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Cooper's story of the "lost flock" reads like a saga, so it's appropriate that she starts with deep "prehistory" (Bronze Age, Iron Age) and moves through the Viking Age (including the very pertinent Icelandic saga of Gudrid the Far-Traveller) before getting to the 18th and 19th century Clearances in Scotland and up to the present day. What a fun ride it is! The story of the Boreray "primitive" breed of sheep, originally living in the St. Kilda archipelago off the west coast of Scotland and thought to be a lost breed of ancient European short-tailed sheep, and the Orkney Boreray, now living in the Orkney islands to the northeast of mainland Scotland, is fascinating to anyone interested in sheep or wool, or history or migration.

I appreciated Cooper's obsession with documentation and research - both academic research and breeding records - and found her tale of the Boreray to be quite readable. Her section on the importance of wool to the Vikings is top notch and reminded me of a lecture by Judith MacKenzie I attended years ago. Judith was the first person who told me that Viking sails were made of wool - wool that was spun on a spindle and woven by hand - a monumental achievement. Cooper goes into more detail - the cloth was woven in strips 60-70 cm wide, in twill, and fulled. I could go on, but this is just a side story to the main narrative.

The bulk of the book is about how Cooper became interested in Boreray sheep and eventually moved to Orkney to start a small flock there, as living conditions are similar on both islands. Through it all, she recounts the myriad of decisions she made in order to respect and preserve the breed's history, as well as the land that supports the sheep. Cooper's farming ethos is: "a deep abiding passion and love for nature and the environment and a need to farm native breeds with high welfare standards but in complete harmony with the land we cared for" (155). I learned a LOT about welfare standards for farm animals, which go far beyond general ideas like "free range." I also learned more than expected about local butcheries (which admittedly sound nicer when the term abattoir is used).

I truly respect and value Cooper's philosophy about the lost flock. She writes: "it was important that we turned away from a capitalist model of expansion of our farm to our sole profit... This flock was far more than just a resource to exploit, a means of wealth creation" (161). She does a stellar job of pulling more people into the community that will preserve this breed - more farmers, more fiber artists, more tanners and chefs and writers.

Jane Cooper is worthy of her own saga. If you just want to read a little of this story, see this piece by Linda Cortright or visit https://orkneyboreray.com.

[Tricia Reuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow Jane Cooper on her journey of self discovery and the start of her activism for the Orkney Boreray in this book!

I was delighted to listen to this as an audiobook through my public library. I don’t even remember what social media video I saw that recommended this book, but I loved every minute of it. As a fellow knitter and crocheter myself, it was delightful to hear about a new-to-me breed of sheep that can be relied on to make yarn. I enjoyed learning about these sheep and how special they truly are - not just for the Scottish economy, but also in world history and in terms of global conservation efforts towards endangered species. It’s so cool to learn about animals, especially when they contribute to a hobby I love so much, and how they thrive in their natural environment.

You could also call this a non-traditional coming of age story. It feels relatable to me, as I know so many people who decided that they wanted something entirely different for their lives than what their current pace was. It takes guts to entirely change the course of your life, to step out of your comfort zone, and to become a better person for it. It’s a breath of fresh air to see that you can learn new things, find new passions, and encourage others to do the same for themselves at any age.

As the first memoir I’ve read in 2025, this was an absolute delight to read! I’m hopeful to find any yarn that contains the fibers of a Boreray sheep in my future. And for anyone who wants to check out this unique breed of sheep after reading the book, the Orkney Boreray website is linked here:

https://orkneyboreray.com/

[Shelley Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Flock is an excellent book on a rare endangered sheep breed in Britain, and one woman's work to bring them back from extinction.

Boreray sheep are feral and live on an isolated island off Scotland's coast. They are descendents of sheep brought by Neolithic farmers to the British isles, some 4,000 years ago.
Jane Cooper fell in love with the breed, and eventually moved to the Orkney Islands to tend a flock of Boreray on a small croft.
Boreray sheep are one of the 30 to 40 breeds categorized as North European Short Tailed sheep. A few decades ago there were perhaps 100 Boreray left. Thanks to the community Cooper has mobilized, there are now over eight flocks in the Scottish islands and Highlands.
Like other primitive (i.e., ancient) breeds, Boreray sheep shed their fleece, and so do not need to be sheared.

I loved this book, not least for the archaeological bits. Human history would be vastly different without sheep--not least Viking history. Those longboats needed sails -- an estimated one million square meters of sailcloth by 1000 C.E. It took two skilled women a year to produce a sail for a ship that two skilled boatbuilders could build in a few weeks.

And, yes, those sails were made of wool. Wool from breeds like the Boreray.

This book is a must for the spinner or weaver in your life, and for anyone who loves textiles or textile archaeology.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I sometimes read pretty random books. “The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles, and One Woman’s Journey to Save Scotland’s Original Sheep” definitely qualifies as a random and niche book. 😆

Jane Cooper went from hobbyist to shepherd to advocate to promoter of the Boreray sheep. The Boreray being the descendants of the original Scottish sheep. A breed that doesn’t have to be shorn, that creates two distinct types of wool on one sheep, whose hooves are specially made for wet weather, and can survive and even thrive while being feral.

This one is not for everyone. I’m not a huge knitter or crocheter, nor am I going to be saving a rare primitive flock of anything, yet I did really enjoy this book. It had interesting historical facts— Viking sails took two master weavers a year to make the sail, while it only took about two weeks for master builders to build a boat. It had the tension of this happening in the last decade. And it had the humanity of it being the story of just one woman and her pet flock becoming so much more.

I’d recommend it, but it definitely isn’t for everyone.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has taken me quite a while to read this one. While I am interested in rare breed sheep, wool, and particularly the history and traditions of wool-craft in the Scottish islands, I wasn’t prepared for the detail of sheep farming and flock tracing in the central part of the book.

I am nonetheless glad I persevered. The last few chapters were more economically written and rounded off the story nicely.

While it reads as a record of a difficult and tedious journey for researchers rather than the narrative of a triumphant journey to preserve a rare breed for those interested in wool and lamb meat, there is enough to engage the latter readers and provoke discussion crafty book clubs, should they exist. I imagine farming communities, even here in Australia, where isolation has a very different set of descriptors, will find much to discuss in, empathise with and take from it.
There are certainly members of the Embroiderers’ Guild study group I convene who will borrow my copy and want to talk about it. It’s another area where modern technology and knowledge growth in the last 50 years has made so much more possible.

[A L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming story of one woman's determination to save a rare breed sheep - the Orkney Boreray.
Jane did not come from a farming background, but her mother had always encouraged Jane's love of nature.
The book charts her journey from living in Newcastle and moving up to Orkney to acquire a small flock of Orkney Boreray sheep. It is through Jane's love of knitting that she first hears about the breed.
Jane has much to learn about the management of her flock as it grows. Her tasks include putting up wire fences. taming the sheep to come when needed, lambing, the loss of her ram Boris and taking on the council when her local abattoir was shut down.
Throughout the book, Jane's passion and affection for the breed is infectious, and there are now more breeders of these small sheep.
A delightful story.

[Ben Klier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Flock: Rare Wool, Wild Isles and One Woman’s Journey to Save Scotland’s Original Sheep
by Jane Cooper

A great read for anyone who love history, wool, yarn, grass, politics, community, and mostly sheep.
Follow Jane on her journey to not just save a culturally important breed of sheep but also a growing community of holistic shepherds, fiber artists, hide tanners, bone and horn craftman, and local butchers.
(Jane also narrated the audio book and is was very nice to listen to her tell her story while I was waving on my loom.)

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much great information and a wonderfully inspiring story of following your passion and launching a new journey. I loved so many parts of this book! Mostly because I love sheep! But the writing was so uneven. It felt scattered and poorly edited. Is this a research thesis? A history lesson? Is this a personal journal? A biography? I would fly along loving the story then found myself “walking through pudding.” On the whole I did enjoy the content because as a knitter who works only with wool I love to know about the yarn.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book with a great story behind it, but the author often tells rather than shows, especially when it comes to the minute details of her research into sheep, abattoirs, etc. I was hoping for a story about crafting, farming, and nature, and sometimes found myself skimming the dense sections where she tracks every sheep taken off the island during the 1970s—something that would be great in an academic article on the topic rather than a book published for a general audience. That said, her passion for the subject comes through!

[Callum Girdwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found it a delightful read, part historical non-fiction - from Vikings to 70's researchers - part rural political campaign, part memoir.

I loved the way the author wove together the tale of the Boreray Sheep breed and Orkney flock, with the history that gives the breed its unique characteristics and the modern challenges to sustaining such a breed.

Whilst agree with some reviews that the author maybe does go on a deep dive in parts on some topics - I found these fascinating and showed the full picture of the level of work the author and others who saved this breed went too.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading of the author’s discovery of the primitive Scottish sheep and her determined efforts to research their history to prove they weren’t extinct. Thoroughly enjoyed following her story and how she kept the whole effort anchored in the community of local farmers and new incomers from. Other parts of Britain.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the fascinating story of how the author came to be the custodian of a flock of a rare breed of sheep on the island of Orkney, off the northern coast of Scotland. I can see where this would be essential reading for those involved with rare sheep breeds, but there was also much of interest to knitters like me. I did get a bit bogged down in some of the details, but overall, this was a very interesting book, and the photos of the sheep—especially the lambs—were a bonus.