An agricultural initiative at Borders College’s Newtown St Boswells campus has proven to be a resounding success, offering students hands-on experience in sheep husbandry while also generating income for the college. The project, led by Andrew Johnson, Head of Sector for the Landbased department, and manager of the Westrigg flock of pedigree Hebridean sheep, was launched following a conversation with Lord Joicey, Ford and Etal Estates, at the 2023 Kelso Ram Sale.
The idea stemmed from a shared belief that the native Scottish Hebridean breed—renowned for its hardiness, conservation grazing capabilities, and quality meat production—would be an excellent fit for the college’s teaching environment. With the generous donation of nine Hebridean ewes from Lord Joicey’s Etal flock, the project quickly gained momentum.
In November 2023, the donated ewes were joined by a Suffolk cross ram sourced by local farmer David Braithwaite. After a successful tupping season, the ewes were wintered locally and then returned to the college ahead of lambing. Though early concerns arose—most notably the loss of one ewe to pneumonia and another with milk issues—the flock largely performed admirably. The remaining ewes lambed outdoors unassisted, despite challenging spring conditions and some large lambs.
By mid-April, the lambing process was well underway, and the resulting lambs thrived over the summer months on the college fields. Students played a central role in managing the flock, gaining valuable insight into practical sheep management, nutrition, and marketing strategies.
The commercial results were equally encouraging. All lambs were sold through the H&H Auction Mart in Newtown St Boswells, with strong returns achieved across multiple sales dates.
Andrew reflected on the outcome:
“My initial thoughts are that these old Hebridean ewes—many of whom were seven or eight years old when they went to the tup—coped extremely well being crossed with a Suffolk sire. They added additional income over breeding pure and allowed us to get lambs off the grass several months earlier.”
The integration of the flock into student learning was particularly rewarding. Several students used aspects of the project for their coursework and independent studies, deepening their understanding of crossbreeding, flock management, and market dynamics.
Encouraged by the success of the first year, Lord Joicey donated five more Hebridean ewes in October 2024. These new additions were promptly put to the Suffolk cross tup alongside eight other ewes in early November, marking the beginning of the next phase of the project.
As the flock grows and evolves, so too does its impact on the future of agricultural education at Borders College. For students, it offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with real-world farming practices—from animal care to auction—in a supportive, learning-focused environment.
The Hebridean flock project stands as a testament to the value of collaboration between landowners, industry professionals, and educational institutions. It also highlights the important role that native breeds can play—not only in preserving biodiversity and sustainable farming systems—but in shaping the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The next stage will be to establish a Borders College registered Hebridean flock which will be separate from the Westrigg flock and allow students to continue to work onsite with these animals.
Hebridean sheep are naturally agile and remarkably disease-resistant. They require minimal care, making them ideal for sustainable farming. Their ability to flourish on poor vegetation reduces the need for costly feed, while their grazing habits promote biodiversity, helping to restore fragile ecosystems.
- For further information about the agricultural programmes at Borders College or the Hebridean flock project, please contact the Newtown St Boswells campus by emailing enquiries@borderscollege.ac.uk or visiting our course information pages.