A Herdwick ram at Cardiff Country Fair…
We went to the first Cardiff Country Fair at Cardiff Castle on Sunday. It was a glorious sunny autumn day.
I wasn’t happy with the way my photographs were going, so I thought at least I would take these portraits of all the different sheep breeds there for future reference.
In Wales we love our sheep. If you don’t “get” the reference in my headline, here’s a video of the Choir of King’s College Cambridge, singing “All we, like sheep, have gone astray” from Handel’s Messiah.
Soay sheep – thought to be close to the earliest domestic sheep in northern Europe…
South Wales Mountain sheep…
A piebald Jacob ram – a rare breed and some individuals have as many as six horns…
Balwen sheep…
Hill Radnor sheep…
…and another Herdwick
I did take a few other snaps, but they are a bit average..
Cardiff Castle was a lovely backdrop for the weekend’s country fair
The Norman keep of Cardiff Castle…
Barn owl display…
It was not a huge event, but there was enough to keep us amused all morning and we bought some cheese. We enjoyed the display by Meirion Owen and his Quack Pack. This West Wales farmer entertains by using his sheepdogs to herd Indian runner ducks. The ducks, like sheep, have a tendency to stick together.
The Quack Pack of Indian runner ducks…
Meirion Owen brought two Border Collies, Moss and Glen, with him to herd the ducks. One of them (I think it was Glen) is 10 years old but still enthusiastic.
There’s life in the old dog yet…
The younger Border Collie…
I met my former workmate Liz Shankland at the fair – she was there with a sow and 10 piglets from her Pedigree Tamworth Tudful Herd. She encouraged me to stroke the bristly skin of the sturdy sow.
I took so many pictures, all awful, as the piglets were either sleeping…
Pedigree Tamworth piglets from the Tudful herd
…or scrabbling around after food with their heads down…
Cute curly tails of Tamworth piglets…
There were Shetland ponies, cattle, goats, a farrier, vintage tractors, food stalls, musical entertainment…
The Severed Limb band at the Country Fair…
Here’s a video of The Severed Limb playing one of the numbers I recall from the show.
Finally, Amazing Alpacas – click on the image to go to their website…
So it was a good morning and I can now identify a few more sheep breeds, but I was a little disappointed with myself on the photography front…
The Squirrelbasket 
All we like sheep – and we all like sheep! (And Indian Runner ducks.)
Yes, the runner ducks were funny, but so fast I couldn’t catch them too well!
Thanks for the comment 🙂
Looks like a great morning Pat! I’m getting a community feel …
Shaz
Yes, Cardiff is quite community and country feeling…
We only passed through Cardiff briefly and it looked like quite a large town. Maybe we should visit again.
Liked the pictures of the piglets looked an unusual colour, not that I know too much about pigs. That video of “All we like sheep”, was lovely to watch and listen.
Yes, the Tamworths are unusual – dare I say it the colour of smoky bacon? They have a pleasant rusty tinge.
Glad you liked the video – I can’t get the music out of my head at the moment…
Best wishes 🙂
I used to love going to these agricultural shows and learnt a lot from them prior to keeping my own array of animals. We kept a small flock of sheep for years plus I kept Tamworth pigs too – but I must say goats will always have a special place in my heart. p.s. Love the quack pack.
Interesting – I hadn’t realised your background. What breed of sheep did you keep, I wonder?
Sadly I didn’t get a picture of the few goats on show. I love their eyes…
Best wishes 🙂
Chocolat and I are sharing a Jacob rug as we are almost into spring, but chilly in the evening.
Here we are almost into autumn, but chilly in the morning!
Best wishes 🙂
Lovely shots! What a variety of animals at the fair!