Shows and Events – Devon Closewool Sheep Breeders' Society

SOCIAL / EDUCATIONAL EVENT – Pop Up Farm Visit – Following the recent Countryfile ‘Lambing Special’ where the programme visited Tom Cole, just outside North Molton in Devon, we thought it would be fun to go and see how he was getting on with crossing his Suffolk Mule ewes with a Devon Closewool ram and how the lambs were performing. Tom lambs in January at a reasonably high altitude, and, having lost several lambs in previous years to wet, cold winters, he decided to try a Closewool ram in the hope that the lambs would have more wool on them and therefore be hardier.

Would it have been a success or was he on a fool’s errand as one or two local farmers thought! Well, so far, so good and Tom is about to start picking fat lambs tomorrow (just as most of us are finishing lambing!). The Closewool ram only went in for one cycle so there are only 40 lambs and as he has started picking, time is of the essence hence the limited amount of notice given for which I apologise. (There are lots of other lambs to see as well as the Closewools).

The visit will only last an hour or so as Tom has a very young family and is extremely busy but the intention is to have a meal at the Poltimore Arms at North Molton straight afterwards. We don’t need to pre-order food but they do need to know numbers so I would be very grateful if you could drop me an email, by return, to let me know whether you intend coming and how many will be in your party.

SUMMER FLOCK VISIT – Clive & Lydia Handy, Andoversford – Sunday 19th June 2026 – We were treated to a glorious day yesterday at Lower Hampen Farm, Gloucestershire by hosts Clive and Lydia Handy. The Devon Closewool ewes, lambs and ewe hogs looked magnificent despite the grass being burnt up which shows the resilience of the breed in all conditions. A tour of the farm took us past beautiful flower rich margins full of butterflies, acres of heritage wheat grown regeneratively farmed using the farms no plough policy, a wooded slope with 4 cheeky Oxford Sandy and Black weaners, fields of Sanfoin grown for its seed to be added to herbal ley mixtures, bee hives, new woodland plantations, a magnificent market garden and we ended up in the gorgeous Three Turnips cafe and shop where we were treated to delicious sandwiches with homemade bread from their heritage wheat and quiches and cakes using their homegrown spinach and courgettes. ‘If you want a job doing, ask a busy person to do it’ has never been truer! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their day and we can’t thank Clive and Lydia enough for making us so welcome. www.homegrown@hampen

ANNUAL BREED SOCIETY SHOW & SALE 14th September 2026 – Location: Blackmoor Gate Market, Kentisbury, Barnstaple, Ex31 4NW – for catalogue please click on the following link http://devonclosewool.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-Show-Sale-Catalogue.pdf

SECOND RAM SALE Monday 5th October 2026 – Location: Blackmoor Gate Market, Kentisbury, Barnstaple, Ex31 4NW – We have a great entry of rams for our Annual Show and Sale at Blackmoor Gate on Monday 14^th September, but, in the event that any of those entered have a low scoring fertility test due to a recent Blue Tongue infection (or possibly because of heat stress), we have decided to offer those rams a second chance of being sold. It can take 6-8 weeks for rams to fully recover from an infection so the 5^th of October may just allow these animals enough time to recover and get back to full fertility. Many of us don’t put our rams in until mid to late October so hopefully a sale on the 5^th Oct will suit the majority. Peter Huntley of Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions, has kindly agreed to group all Closewool entries consecutively in the catalogue. Please enter this sale direct with Exmoor Farmers (01643 841841) no less than 7 days prior to the sale for inclusion in their catalogue.

QUIZ NIGHT With the Exmoor Horns is Tuesday 3rd November 2026 at Molland Village Hall starting at 7pm to include a 2 course meal for £10

SOCIETY DINNER Details to follow

FLOCK COMPETITION Details to follow

NEXT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 18th November 2026 – Location: Filleigh Village Hall, Filleigh, Barnstaple, EX32 0RS at 7.30pm – All members welcome

–