Heather Adams from Derbyshire

1. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF
My name is Heather Adams, I live on the family farm near Bakewell in the heart of the Peak District National Park. The farm has 550 beef cattle and 800 commercial breeding ewes. I bought my first Valais Blacknose simply because I wanted to look at something different out of my kitchen window….. little did I know how addictive they would become!!
2. DO YOU HAVE A WEBSTIE/FACEBOOK?
Find us on Facebook. 

https://www.facebook.com/Valais-Blacknose-Sheep-Derbyshire-941501946057129/


3. FLOCK PREFEX
Deepdale
4. WHEN DID YOU GET YOUR FIRST BLACKNOSE SHEEP?
I bought 2 VBN ewes and a ram in May 2015 from the first auction of the breed in the UK. All were imported from Switzerland.
5. HOW BIG IS YOUR FLOCK?
Our current tally is 29.
6. WHO HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE SHEEP AND WHY?
I know it’s a bit cliche but they are special, they have such wonderful individual characters. My 2 original Swiss ewes and ram (Beech Farm Rambo) will always hold a special place in my heart as without them my amazing Blacknose journey would never have been. 
Deepdale Bessie, pictured below, my first homebred female who won her class at Blacknose Beauties in 2016, such a lovely natured ewes and an excellent mother. 
Deepdale Duchess, my first maximum points ewe.

7. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNT ALONG THE WAY?
My top tips are…. provide a free choice cobalt and selenium lick for optimum flock health. Always have a can of blue spray in your pocket whenever you go to feed or check the sheep 😉 If you prompt in treating any scald, you will drastically reduce problems with footrot.
8. WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS FOR YOUR SHEEP?
A flock of gorgeous, healthy, happy sheep for myself and my young family to enjoy. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a bunch of VBN coming bounding towards you when you rattle a bucket of corn. It’s not quite so satisfying when they reach you, there’s a reason my legs are always covered in bruises! 
To breed animals as close to these breed standard as possible. 2 of our homebred ewe lambs scored maximum points at the breed society show in 2018…. perhaps we can make it 3 this year??!!
9. WHAT OTHER ANIMALS DO YOU HAVE?
2 cats, 1 dog, 2 tortoises, 2 horses, 4 chickens and 6 Greyface Dartmoor.
10. WHAT IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU BECAUSE OF OWNING BLACKNOSE SHEEP?
The best thing has to be the places that I have been, and the people that I have met, that I didn’t know existed before this journey began. The Swiss town of Visp now holds some of my most treasured memories…. beautiful sheep and welcoming Swiss breeders with a genuine passion for the breed and an unrivalled pride in what they produce. It really is a ‘must visit’ place for any VBN enthusiast. Equally Carlisle holds some brilliant memories! Again a bunch of genuine, like-minded, welcoming people. There is just something about the VBN that is really special … I can’t quite put my finger on it…. but I’m sure you fellow breeders will know exactly what I mean. 
FINALLY YOUR BEST PHOTO OF YOUR SHEEP.