Counting Sheep: A Celebration of the Pastoral Heritage of Britain

by Philip Walling

Sheep are the thread that runs through the history of the English countryside. Our fortunes were once founded on sheep, and this book tells a story of wool and money and history, of merchants and farmers and shepherds, of English yeomen and how they got their freedom, and above all, of the soil. Sheep have helped define our culture and topography, impacting on everything from accent and idiom, architecture, roads and waterways, to social progression and wealth.With his eye for the idiosyncratic, Philip meets the native breeds that thrive in this country; he tells stories about each breed, meets their shepherds and owners, learns about their past - and confronts the present realities of sheep farming. Along the way, Philip meets the people of the countryside and their many the mole-catchers, the stick-makers, the tobacco-twisters and clog-wrights. He explores this artisan heritage as he re-discovers the countryside, and finds a lifestyle parallel to modern existence, struggling to remain unchanged - and at its heart, always sheep.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Nature, Animals, British Literature, Natural History

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 3, 2014

Reviews

[Snoakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I now know as much as I could ever possibly want to know (and probably more) about sheep!
This is a whistlestop tour of the history of Britain from the perspective of sheep farming - highlighting particular breeds of sheep along the way. I'm afraid I shall forget the peculiarities and features that make each breed distinct fairly quickly, but it's interesting stuff, from an author who is clearly passionate about his subject.

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thinking this was a marvellous book until I got into the last chapter. And yikes, we don't like the land being used for anything but farming, do we? He has a real go at rewilding, in particular moorland, and just... yikes:

"The scheme is based on certain presumptions: that sheep grazing is bad; that global warming, or climate change as we now have to call it, is happening and is having an effect on the moors." (p 246).

So climate change is a fiction now? Sadly, that last chapter really wrecked the rest of the book for me. I'd agree that the rewilding obsession is in parts a bit naive - a lot of landscapes have to be managed to support the species that live there, and in places grazing animals help that process. But as for the moors.... moorland that has had drainage systems installed, when actually there should be masses of spagnum moss and bogs up there to absorb water (I am reading this as Britain is suffering with a lot of flooding)... yes, they do need rewilding, and this 50s/60s/70s attitude to farming with mass monocultures, pesticides, and nuke anything that isn't where I want it attitude has done a lot of long term damage we're still dealing with now. He even then goes on to make an argument about what a joke helping the moorland, based on the carbon capture argument is because people drive up there to oversee the project, they've used helicopters to bring in the moss. How is that better than livestock he wonders? One aspect that was missing from this book is all the flatulence greenhouse gases these animals let off. I'd actually thought he'd missed a trick with that one at the start of the book when he was writing about old breeds, and the North Ronaldsey sheep on an Orkney island, that are feral and spend a lot of time eating seaweed. This diet actually means that their flatulence greenhouse gas is far, far lower than other sheep.

This book ends on a really bad note, making me want to toss the book to the other side of the room thinking similar things about the author.

So, maybe there should be a warning, skip the last two chapters, and it's actually a good book. He's writing about a great number of the native breeds of the UK, and yes, you are going to learn a lot about sheep, but sheep have been such a big part of this country, that they are integral to our history and landscapes. So it's an informative (maybe too much for me at moments) and joyful read. I also really enjoyed the chapter on sheepdogs as well. And I now know which are the toughest sheep in the UK. =) We'll have to be like the Herdwicks, and go our own way when he starts on his rants.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally when I think of sheep, the first thing that springs to mind is the hilarious series by Aardman, Shaun the Sheep. That aside, sheep have had a long history in this country from the ancient wild Jacob breeds, the domesticated breeds that the Romans brought over 2000 years ago, right up to the modern breeds and crosses that populate our hills and pastures still now. Way back in the past, sheep drove our economy and people made vast fortunes supplying, what was considered, the finest wool in the world. The ovine economy helped define our culture and landscape too, the Wooksack can be found in the Lords (now they have removed the horsehair), and the husbandry of sheep played a significant role in our social structures and infrastructure.

The work has always been hard, as Walling finds out as he meets the shepherds and enthusiasts who own and care for the modern day breeds today in our countryside. They still support our rural economy today, though they have much less impact financially than they did. In his journey back to our heritage he re-discovers the landscape today and learns of the modern challenges behind sheep farming today. It is not a bad book overall, with thought provoking writing. I really think though that I really don’t need to know any more about sheep now though.

[Joey Bach hardie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic exploration of the past and present of sheep husbandry in Britain, and how it has shaped both the animals and the people who keep them.

The last few chapters, which attempt to deal with current political issues, are rather muddled, however. Walling's passion for the subject, which in all other sections excites and illuminates, turns these discussions into little more than rants devoid of context or depth.

Fortunately, these chapters are short and tucked away at the end of the book, and they do not seriously mar what is otherwise a beautiful historical narrative.

[Mad · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like sheep (I like sheep) then this is a fascinating history. With each chapter focussing on different breeds, Walling explores the development of sheep husbandry and the role sheep have played in economic life in the UK.

[Lincoln Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maaaarvellous

[Nikita · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who loves sheep, I thoroughly enjoyed most portions of this book. I especially loved the sections talking about ancient sheep and hill sheep, the breeds generally untouched from human influences who are hardy, independent and strong mothers. These were the sheep with the most character and personality. I also enjoyed the personal anecdotes of the authors own sheep or of sheep kept my friends.

This book is good for demonstrating the detrimental effects of the increase of the human population and demand for convenience. I'm left with a wistful feeling for the breeds of sheep whose numbers have dwindled, or become outright extinct, because they weren't considered useful enough for us. They were bred out of existence so that pure meat machines could take their place. When the demand for meat rose, there was a shift from seeing animals as living beings with value to tools, similarly to how capitalism views its human workers. Although it may not seem like it, this book fits nicely in to my "radical" bookshelf and has continued some of my though from Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey.

I appreciated the inclusion of a glossary in this book which helped make farming terminology digestible. I can confidently say I can understand the sheep breeding pyramid and many aspects of farming from how this is written. I recommend this book.

[David Rudin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fascinating survey of the history of Great Britain via the ever changing breeds of sheep raised. The book rises to its greatest heights, almost waxing lyrical, when it delves into the deep cultural traditions, anchored by the connection to the land, of agricultural peoples, specifically those raising sheep.
If you, like me, are fascinated by sheep, history and culture than this is a wonderful book. I’ll give the author a pass on the final three chapters, one on dogs, another on sacrificing/slaughtering sheep and the last a rant against re-wilding. The unfortunate part is that he then seems to remember at the last moment that this is a book about sheep and culture and so tacks on a final paragraph that is too little, too late to make an effective summary and ending. Still and all, well worth the read!

[Mackenzie Bianco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best nonfiction should ultimately teach you something. And this book taught me a LOT more than I first thought it would when I picked it up.

As a knitter I find sheep and wool infinitely fascinating. I’ve read memoirs by shepherds and other books on the history of knitting and wool production and loved every one. This was an entirely different beast. It requires a deep investment of interest in the agricultural purpose and history of keeping and breeding sheep. But in return it delivers, with gentle humour and sometimes scathing criticism, a deeply-researched and well presented celebration of Britain’s pastoral heritage (as was its intention).

It’s not for everyone, but for those with that — nowadays rather niche — interest, it’s a must read.

[Annie Poole · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

The best parts of this book where when Walling talked about his direct experience of sheep farming - they were by far the most engaging sections and I wish there had been more.

I found the heavy detail on breeding difficult to get through, but that’s quite a personal thing so if you would enjoy that then this is the book for you.

Personally I’d have found more personal storytelling and more focus on wool and wool products more interesting.

Also be warned that Walling frequently raises his anti-EU sentiments, anti-environmentalism and a disregard for climate change. The undertones of “why can’t people just qccept English ways” is unpleasant.

[Julian Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really off beat book for me, but one with so many nuggets of information it is almost like a history of trivia (and I mean that in a hugely complimentary way to the author).

Written with first-hand knowledge and many years’ experience, this is a book about the very fabric of country living.

A little political at the end of the book, but a good read in the main, I really felt the life of a shepherd and farmer come alive.

A different take on the development of British life and an enjoyable read for anyone with an interest in the country.

[Kimberly Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this trip through the history and husbandry of sheep in the British Isles. There were terms I'd heard growing up in farming country but didn't know what they meant, so I've learned a lot and discovered that my favourite breed of sheep is probably the Herdwick.

I found myself laughing out loud at their antics, the woolly little blighters!

If you are not sure you'll like it, give it a go. You might be pleasantly surprised.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about England's sheep breeds and history. Many colorful anecdotes keep it livelier than you might think. The last two chapters take somewhat of an odd turn and if you are squeamish, there are a few passages throughout that you may want to skip.

[Matthew Tebbutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did prefer this book to "Till the Cows come home". It allows me to have a nostalgia for the land my suburban upbringing kept me slightly removed from. It is slightly less techy and has fewer statistics than it's successor.

[J E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fantastic book. A whole world I knew very little about until now. I will not look at a grazing field of sheep in the same way again. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I have just re-read it 12 months later.

[Laura Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not as enjoyable as I'd hoped.

[Guy Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and easy reading. Shame he didn't cover more hill breeds.

[Tabitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very beautiful descriptions of British sheep breeds, spoiled only slughtly by the anti-environmentalism rant at the end which seems ever so naïve now in 2024.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read, giving an interesting perspective on how intertwined English history and sheep are.

As odd as that sounds, it's a fascinating look, often focusing on specific breeds and their place in history/how they came about, as well as some notable figures from animal husbandry, which might not be all that interesting to some. However, this book excels at being an almost travelogue of the sheep of Britain, as well as the countrysides where they are from.

The one hard thing for me, as an American, is that the author references things the I think his audience (being that it was printed in the UK) would be familiar with. At one point, I talked to a friend who has a Master's in Scottish History from the Uni of Aberdeen about what the author was talking about. It was a lengthy, but needed, explanation, and it shed a lot of light on what the author was saying. But those are things that most Brits would have been familiar with. (For some reason, they don't teach a whole lot of Scottish/British history in the US education system.)

It's a book I have a feeling I'll reference, as someone who has an interest in sheep, sheep breeds, and British history.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've rated this book 4 stars based on how much it increased my interest in sheep and those who keep them. However, some of the incredible detail melded together as Walling introduced, revisited and expanded upon numerous breeds and types of sheep and ultimately I don't actually recall what details go with which breeds or types. So on that count, the book failed to really teach me anything. However, I was very engrossed in each different breed or type as I read about it and found the book awfully interesting as Walling described various landscapes and why or how different breeds or types thrived in them. So on that count, the book succeeded in teaching me something.

I purchased this book at a literary festival during a trip to England after spending much of a day walking various walking paths through sheep fields and cattle fields in the Cotswolds. And, overall, I'm sad to be leaving Walling's style and the wonderful sheep that served as his subjects.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite a four star due to the last bit of the last chapter. No Mr Walling I believe we are quite sure that peatlands are disappearing and they are so important we have to try to reverse that change. We may not have the answer to that but have to keep trying. And overgrazing may have played a part. Otherwise not only a delightful read but full of information. Sheep have always been so important in the history of the UK but also the course of civilization, that we should all know a lot more about it.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a farmer's wife, married to a sheep farmer, what's not to like about a book that talks about the different sheep breeds, their history and their foibles. A really interesting book, just a shame I have to return it to my sister.

[H. Bernardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and a good read.

A book about the background of numerous breeds of sheep as well as interesting stories. Nice pictures at the end of the book to go with.

[Tina Ambury · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely terrific book. The sheer wealth of information is considerable and I feel I know loads more about countryside matters. Not just sheep; history, husbandry and folklore. Brilliant

[Karin Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this ! You don't need to own sheep to appreciate this book