Sheep On The Road

[Palustris]

No idea where to put this, but it is rather amusing, at the moment. In the field opposite us there is a stray flock of sheep. The field is not stock proof (no gate and a huge missing section of hedge). I have just chased the flock off the road, out of neighbours garden and back on to the field. No idea who owns the sheep or farms the field. So the question is, who do we inform? There could be a nasty accident if the animals go along the lane and out on to the main road.

[emmie]

the police? they might be able to stop the flow of traffic if need be. if they are local coppers they may know where the sheep belong, perhaps a nearby farm, if u get my drift.

[jourdain2]

Do you have a local pub? If so, the people there will know the sheep-farmers. Also, you must have a Parish Council (they should have a website with names and phone numbers). There must be farms around, you could go to one and knock on the door.

We have the same problem in our village, but the sheep that escape are a group of bottle-raised ones who are wise in ways of gates and knowledgeable about garden plants. Everyone knows who they belong to and a phone call sorts it.

The other recourse is the local Countryside Warden - far more likely to know the answer than the police. No gate sounds distinctly poor
stocksmanship.

[ummmm]

Are they not sprayed?

[Islay]

The police in the first instance

[Palustris]

The field is not used for stock, these animals have wandered down the lane and been driven into this field for safety.
No pubs anywhere near us.
The two nearest farms, the one I called at this morning, has no idea who owns the sheep either and the other one owns the land, but do they not farm and also have no idea about the sheep.
No idea who is on the Parish Council and certainly no phone numbers anywhere and even so they would have no idea. They do not live on this lane.
The sheep have ear tags, but the does not help and I am certainly not going to catch one and ask where it came from.
If nothing happens I will call the police, that is if I can find a number, the nearest police station is nearly 30 miles away. Last time a crime was committed here, the police car got lost trying to find us.

[Islay]

Call the police on the non emergency number you don't need a local number - if the animals are at risk or could cause an accident - why wait?

[aelmpvw]

our local policeman is regularly seen rounding up sheep, i bet he thinks 'this isn't what i signed up for'

[Prudie]

If 2 local farms have no idea it would suggest they are not local - call the police - they've either walked a long way or some rustling has gone wrong.

[albaqwerty]

I agree with Prudie.

Phone 101 (that is the number isn't it?)

[melv16]

It's a Welsh hen party :-)

[-SharonA-]

Roast lamb anyone??

[cupid04]

Mint sauce...

[Palustris]

These would be mutton so more likely Redcurrant jelly than Mint sauce.
Police not interested by the way.

[albaqwerty]

are they still there or have they moved on?

[1ozzy]

Moved on to a barbecue plate or a spit?

[Palustris]

Either someone came and collected the sheep while we were away from home today or they have gone long walk about. A contractor was spraying the field this evening. Cannot see him doing this if the sheep were still in residence. Have had a quick look and no sheep visible.