WELCOME!
Castlemilk Moorit Sheep
About Us
We are a small flock of beautiful rare breed sheep living in the Vale of Glamorgan and looked after by our shepherd , Vicky Phillips.
The Castlemilk Moorit breed originated in the early 1900's in Dumfriesshire, Scotland , on the Castlemilk estate of Sir John Buchanan Jardine.
They are crossed between Sheltand, Mouflon and Manx Loaghtan and are distinguished by their deer - like appearance, with fine long fine legs and are very agile. They have specific mouflon markings seen as white "spectacles", lower jaw, legs, ,belly and rump. Their fleece is caramel in colour but dark brown ( moorit) underneath which subsequently bleaches after a few weeks following shearing , or rooing.
The breed was almost lost completely when, in the early 1970's and following the death of John Buchanan Jardine, the majority of the flock were culled but a few were left and were saved by the late Mr Joe Henson, MBE.
a rare breed...
The Castlemilk Moorit appears on the "at risk" watchlist of the RBST ( Rare Breed Survival Trust).The data used for producing the watchlist is gathered in conjunction with Defra and is obtained from the relevant breed societies. The Castlemilk Moorit Society has worked hard to identify all the remaining founder bloodlines, and worked together with their members to help promote and protect the genetic future of the breed.
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FLOCK NEWS
Sheep and Wool Day
We've been ( hopefully) raising the profile of our breed by attending a "Sheep and Wool Day", put on by Glamorgan Smallholders where visitors could see "The Great Glamorgan Sock Project", wool and related products from different breeds, have a go at various crafts and generally talk sheep! It's always lovely to see,and learn about, other breeds and to discover ideas as to what can be done with their fleece. Thank you to Jane Bissett Kennixtonsheep for organising a great day!
More About Us
How it all started....!
My name is Vicky Phillips, owner and shepherd of the Dartridge Flock. I am a first generation shepherd, having spent many years as a Geophysicist in industry and subsequently as a lecturer. I think it is safe to say my life changed somewhat a few years ago when these beautiful animals came into my life and I now have 44 in the flock, having started with one ewe lamb!! Their fleeces are beautiful - soft colours ranging from cream, toffee, chocolate brown and even some silvery grey. I have had some spun and woven into rugs ( see below) and plan to have more spun and then knit into hats scarves and mittens etc. It is a privilege to own this rare breed and everyday is a learning curve with them. Keeping sheep is somewhat addictive - but I wouldn't have it any other way!
Read more about the breed on the Castlemilk Moorit Society website
SHOW DIARY 2023
2nd for ram lamb, Dartridge Highfield Rory, in his first show!
Dartridge Highfield Rory
Dartridge Stephen ready for the Grand Parade, with Reserve Champion Mark Ballard and his ewe
1st place in the fleece competition, Primitive Section - a lovely surprise!
The Bryncrib Perpetual Trophy for the National Champion
A tremendous day for the Dartridge Flock!
SHOW DIARY 2023
Dartridge Stephen ready for the Grand Parade, with Reserve Champion Mark Ballard and his ewe
1st place in the fleece competition, Primitive Section - a lovely surprise!
SHOW DIARY 2023
Smallholding & Countryside Festival , Royal Welsh Showground , 20th-21st May
A great weekend in Llanelwedd, at the Royal Welsh Showground with Lady Morgana taking the Primitive Championship , and Stephen winning his ram class!
Dartridge Lady Morgana, 1st Primitve Ewe and Primitive Champion!
Dartridge Stephen , 1st Primitive Ram
A lovely day out for the first show of the season! Took Stephen, who had a wonderful day and was totally chilled thorughout, behaving himself impeccably in the ring and with the judge - and coming home with a First place in the Primitive Ram class!
North Somerset Show 1st May
The lad in action!
A great day!
The Ram pack.....
The Dartridge Flock has four rams: Captain Montgomery, Dartridge Master Stephen, Dartridge Master Denzil and shearling ram, Gorsewain William of Wales (a.k.a Wills) joined the boys in August 2022
Meet Wills!
New kid on the block...Gorsewain William of Wales
Captain Montgomery leading from the front
Dartridge Master Stephen -Primitive Champion at Frome Cheese Show 2021!
LAMBING 2023....
10th April, 2023 and after an anxious wait the first of this year's additions to the Dartridge Flock arrived - a little ewe lamb for first then time mum Lady Mary. Welcome to the flock Dartridge Lady Felicity
Dartridge Lady Fenella
Arrived on the 11th April, on a rather stormy afternoon to another first tiime mum, Lady Matilda.
AUTUMN 2022 Photo Gallery
FLOCK news 2022
Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show, 10 Sept 2022
Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show, 10 Sept 2022
Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show, 10 Sept 2022
Final show of the season for Team Dartridge, and a grand day out after a long trek to Frome! some excellent competition with full classes, third in the team of three, 2nd for Stevie in the primitve ram class and 4th place for Morganna and Daisy in the primitive shearling ewe and ewe class respectively . Wonderful end to the season and a huge thank you to my little team who remain remarkablly calm and well behaved , even after the early starts, long days and meeting and greeting visitors!
Vale of Glamorgan Show, Penllyn, 10 August 2022
Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show, 10 Sept 2022
Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show, 10 Sept 2022
A very hot day at Penllyn, but all safe and sound under a large gazebo and with plenty of water! Stephen, Morganna and Daisy coming 2nd in the group of three and Stephen winning first prize in the primitive ram class, and rosette for best Castlemilk Moorit exhibit.
Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern 19 June, 2022
Frome Cheese and Agricultural Show, 10 Sept 2022
Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern 19 June, 2022
Lovely day in Malvern at the Rare and Minority Breeds Show at the Royal Three Counties. Stephen and Lady Rose both taking 2nd place in their respective classes and having a balll in the Grand Parade! What a pair of little pros -and the Castlemilk Moorits got a mention from Adam Henson too ! A great day meeting and competing with other Castlemilk owners and their sheep and also for showcasing our wonderful breed!
North Somerset Agricultural Show, 2 May 2022
RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival, 21 - 22 May 2022
Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern 19 June, 2022
A great day over in Bristol at the NSAS. Delighted with a 3rd place for Dartridge Master Stephen in a strongly contested primitive ram class. Lady Morganna enjoyed the day competing in the shearling ewe class, and loved meeting the public! Two great ambassadors for the Castlemilk Moorit breed as well as for the Dartridge Flock and already looking forward to returning to the show next year!
RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival, 21 - 22 May 2022
RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival, 21 - 22 May 2022
RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival, 21 - 22 May 2022
A fantastic weekend back at Llanelwedd and the Royal Welsh Showground for the Smallholders Festival. The Dartridge Flock fielding a team of two again, with Stephen placing 1st in his Ram class then Reserve Primitive Champion and Lady Rose ,at her very first show, taking 3rd place in the Shearling Ewe class. Absolutely over the moon for both of them! We met so many people and also other Castlemilk Moorit Society members, and it was great to see little Rose making her show debut, taking it calmly and in her stride - and being well looked after by Stephen! Hopefully we will return next year!
Wonderwool Wales, 23- 24 April 2022
RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival, 21 - 22 May 2022
RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival, 21 - 22 May 2022
A busy weekend in at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells as part of the Wool Women of Wales group. Lots of enquiries and chat about the Castlemilk Moorit breed , especially their wool, and sold a few small bags of fleece from the flock to some keen spinners and knitters.
ROYAL WELSH SHOW, 18-21 JULY 2022
Castlemilk Moorits with the NSA
The Dartridge Flock were very proud to represent the Castlemilk Moorit breed at this year's Royal Welsh Show, with a stand in the National Sheep Association Hall. The original plan to take three or four sheep was revised to just two, owing to the forecast for extreme temperatures, so duty fell to one of my young rams, Stephen and one of the shearling ewes, Lady Morganna. What a wonderful week we had, with a lot of visitors being introduced to the breed and a great deal of interest from people enquiring about starter flocks as well as a lot of questions from farmers looking to add ,or diversify from, their commercial breeds.
There was also a lot of interest in the primitive breeds generally and their role in conservation grazing , with plenty of photographs to show some of the flock currently engaged in various projects.
There were various products on display including rugs and raw fleece and we were lucky enough to have some fleece carded by the Brecknock Spinners, who not only provided an extra interest in demonstrating a wonderful skill but also enabled our visitors to get an idea of the sheep-fleece-wool production line!
Despite the rocketing temperatures outside, our two woolly representatives did an amazing job as ambassadors for their breed and we hope that their efforts will have engaged many more potential owners as a result!
Shows and Events
Stock availability
Stock availability
The team have been out and about this season, competing at North Somerset Show, RWAS Smallholders Spring Festival to name but a few. Great fun had by all and a few ribbons to ocme home mwith as well. But most of all our beautiful breed being introduced to manyt people who have never seen them before!
Stock availability
Stock availability
Stock availability
I occasionally have stock available, either individually or as a small starter flock. Please contact me for further details.
Rugs
Raw fleece
Raw fleece
The beautiful fleeces from my flock are made into rugs, spun and woven in the Isle of Lewis by The Pocket House Studio. Each rug is completely unique in colour and texture, long lasting and very special! Please contact me for more details.
Raw fleece
Raw fleece
Raw fleece
Raw fleece for spinners, usually "rooed" by myself from my flock, please contact me for further details and availability.