OUR STORY

ANCIENT BREED, NEW APPROACH

We are farmers, advocates and caretakers of Scotland’s Heritage Breed

Protecting, Preserving, Promoting


The Orkney Boreray flock was established and founded by Jane Cooper in 2017. Our core purpose is to protect the low numbers of Orkney Boreray sheep, on the Orkney Isles, by creating a new breeding programme to increase the population. ‘The Lost Flock’ simply would not have the opportunity to thrive in the natural landscape without the work of our Community.

Since our formation, we have established a loyal community of like-minded producers and collaborators who cherish and savour the remarkable qualities of Orkney Boreray sheep as much as we do. Members of the Orkney Boreray community stay in touch, visit each others’ farms to provide support and provide advice to one another, when necessary.

We invite dedicated crofters who are committed to our high welfare standards and want to be part of our ongoing mission to preserve Orkney Boreray sheep to contact us and be part of this new chapter in the story of the breed.

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SLOW TO MATURE AT TWO OR THREE YEARS AND THEREFORE PRODUCING DELICIOUS MUTTON, ORKNEY BORERAY ALSO GIVE HIGH QUALITY FLEECES WHICH THEY SHED NATURALLY WITHOUT SHEARING.

Jane Cooper, Founder

A LOST FLOCK, RE-FOUND

Eight years ago, I’d just moved to a peedie farm in Orkney and was looking forward to bringing up 5 Boreray wether lambs to provide me with fleece for my spinning. Then I was told one was still a ram — “too good to castrate”.

That started a journey that led to a breeding flock of sheep I gathered from three tiny flocks in the Highlands, and in 2017 I discovered that I was the custodian of the last remnants of the ‘Lost Flock’ of Boreray sheep. A unique subgroup. My joy and passion for these amazing little sheep thus also became a huge responsibility.

To secure the long term future of Orkney Boreray sheep, I’ve worked to establish flocks with more (younger!) crofters and farmers — to develop products and markets and make them a profitable enterprise for everyone involved. None of this would have been possible without the support of my husband and family, our friends, and now the members of the Orkney Boreray Community.

THE ORKNEY BORERAY COMMUNITY

Our wider Community includes crofters, farmers, craftspeople, producers, butchers, chefs and businesses.

The Orkney Borerary Foundation is open to dedicated and like-minded crofters and farmers in the Orkney Isles who are interested in raising a flock of their own. We are also interested in discussions with new partner producers in the food and craft sectors.

INDIA WHITWELL

INDIA WHITWELL

Orkney Cloth

Orkney had a rich heritage of textile weaving which had been lost for over 30 years, and my business, Orkney Cloth, is hoping to revive it once again. After arriving in Orkney on a graduate weaving placement in 2018, I began teaching hand weaving, before setting up the business — making contemporary and sustainable textiles inspired by my island home.

By employing a deliberately small-scale approach and using locally sourced materials like Orkney Boreray fleece, we focus on making our textiles as sustainable as possible — encouraging people to buy less and consume better.

NATHAN MCTAGGART

NATHAN MCTAGGART

All Things Heathen

I am a blacksmith and craftsman based in Orkney. Through my business, All Things Heathen, I handcraft pagan, viking and heathen jewellery, home decor, tools and many more items — available for purchase through my Etsy store.

I am currently working some new products working with Orkney Boreray sheep. These will be one of a kind products due to the colouring of the horn and the bone. Each piece I work with will have a unique and natural pattern to it that is revealed when carved. Follow me on Instagram for the latest projects and crafts.

JENNEY HALL

JENNEY HALL

jen-ewe-ine

Nearly a decade ago, our family moved to Orkney, and we chose to buy a small north-facing farm/croft, that we still absolutely love. For a number of years now, we've been raising an Orkney Boreray flock and, as with everything on our coastal patch, it's an 'all hands on deck' family operation to keep things running smoothly.

It's very satisfying to be a small-scale, single farm yarn producer, sending small batches of fleece to the North Ronaldsay Mill to produce several distinct, naturally-coloured yarns. Regular croft updates and products for sale can be found at Jen-Ewe-Ine on Facebook where you can also find contact info.

JOCK GIBSON

JOCK GIBSON

Macbeths Butchers

Macbeth’s Butchers is a family-run business that provides high quality meat products throughout the UK. As well as traditional Scottish native breed beef, we supply locally-sourced pork, lamb, venison, game and mutton — including Orkney Boreray mutton. We work with farms, crofts and organisations with a similar philosophy to ourselves — rearing livestock in extensive, natural environments, with grass, hay or silage feed and no growth promoters.

Orkney Boreray mutton sells out rather quickly, in our experience, so keep an eye on our website for the latest availability, and get in touch with any queries.

WENDY BARRIE

WENDY BARRIE

Scottish Food Guide

I am a cook, food writer and Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador, as well as a campaigner for local produce. I support and collaborate with various organisations and charities, and lead Slow Food Scotland’s Ark of Taste — undertaking in-depth research into Scotland's Food Heritage.

My growing network of chefs and producers throughout Scotland and across Europe, particularly Scandinavia, has hugely enhanced my extensive experience and critical view of Scotland’s strengths, and I specialise in promoting artisan produce like Orkney Boreray mutton. More information is available on my website.

FRED BERKMILLER

FRED BERKMILLER

L'Escargot Bleu Restaurant

At l'escargot bleu in Edinburgh we, as a family, have given lots of thought to our food and now more than ever we are only welcoming the best ingredients into our kitchen — ingredients that respect the farmer's ethos, the grower’s philosophy, the fisherman's respect for the ocean and the cheesemaker’s traditional recipe.

We offer a blackboard ‘bistro-style’ menu that will evolve and change in response to feedback and demand. These shorter menus will place emphasis on quality and the seasons — see our website for details.

NORMAN AND HAZEL SHEARER

NORMAN AND HAZEL SHEARER

Airy Farm, Stronsay

Airy Farm, Stronsay has been home to traditional beef cattle such as Aberdeen Angus and Limousin for decades. Sheep have come and gone over the years and our recent small flock started with our daughters four pet lambs.

Airy’s varied habitat is home to many species of birds and wildlife and flowers, it is a place where livestock and nature thrive together. A recent health scare meant taking the hard decision to sell off our beef herd, this left us wondering what the future would hold for Airy. When Jane approached us about hosting a flock of Boreray Sheep wethers we were very interested! The Boreray story is fascinating and the ethos behind the Boreray breed preservation and the slow food movement should be at the heart of all farming.

And so, as our new adventure begins with our own flock of Boreray sheep, we are proud to be part of their story.

Regular farm updates can be found at Airy Farm on Facebook

BE PART OF THE STORY

We welcome interest from like-minded crofters and farmers — particularly those looking to start their own farms on Orkney — and anyone who feels they can make produce of the utmost quality with Orkney Boreray sheep.

Follow on Instagram

@OrkneyBoreray