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Over the past two weeks there have been three separate incidents targeting the sheep at Swangleys Farm. We usually avoid using this blog to report negative issues, but the nature and number of these events mean it is important that our local community is aware.

All three incidents have been reported to Hertfordshire Police and are under investigation.

         

 

Deliberate Fence Cutting (7–9 February)

Between 7 and 9 February, our livestock fence south of Watton Road was deliberately cut through in two separate locations. This is permanent stock fencing designed to contain cattle and needed someone to bring heavy duty cutters and put in sustained effort to make around 20 cuts through metal mesh and barbed wire.

There is no plausible explanation for this other than a deliberate attempt to release the sheep which were grazing in that field.  Had the sabotage not been spotted by the shepherd, sheep would have escaped onto Watton Road, creating a serious risk both to the animals and to motorists.

Removal of Electric Fence and Harassment of Sheep (12 February)

On 12 February, five youths wearing black balaclavas were seen and challenged by members of the community, removing a long stretch of electric fencing near the recreation ground and harrassing the sheep, leaving them panicked and vulnerable to harm.

It was only in the last few days that we discovered the harassment had also included using the electric fence posts — which have 20cm metal spikes at their base — as javelins , throwing them into the field at the sheep. We are extremely grateful for the bravery of the people who intervened and for their initiative in repairing the fence – your actions undoubtedly prevented further harm.

Sheep Worrying Incident (27 February)

On the morning of 27 February at about 9am, a sheep was seen dead and bloodied in the field behind the recreation ground, close to a well-used dog walking route. We immediately attended and found the sheep had a major wound consistent with a dog attack and was likely to have died a couple of hours earlier. We have chosen not to show the wound in the photo.

We are dog owners ourselves and we know that the vast majority of local dog walkers are responsible people. However, it is important to be clear about the law. Under the Livestock Act 1953, it is a criminal offence for a dog to worry livestock, and owners are legally responsible for ensuring their dog is never out of control around farm animals, which includes an uncontrolled dog simply entering a field containing sheep.

 

These incidents have been deeply upsetting. It is hard to understand why someone would harm sheep or put them at risk.  Not only that, but the sheep are being hosted at Swangleys for entirely positive reasons – an environmental grazing initiative, which is designed to improve soil health and reduce reliance on artificial inputs.  It is something on which many people have contacted us to tell us how supportive they are. We are grateful for that encouragement.

We are sharing this information because interference with livestock and fencing presents real risk of harm — to the animals, to vehicles, and to members of our community.  We would appreciate your own support in staying alert to any future incidents.

If you have any information that may assist the police, please contact Hertfordshire Police quoting:

• Cut fencing on Watton Rd (7–9 Feb): RRC-264-26-4141-C
• Electric fence incident (12 Feb): RRC-265-26-4141-C
• Sheep worrying death 27 Feb  =  RRC-266-26-4141-C

 

Thank you to those who have been in touch with support — it genuinely makes a difference.

UPDATE –

Thankyou to the many many local people who have now got in touch to say how much they enjoy seeing the sheep at Swangleys or have let us know in general how supportive you are of our farming.  We really appreciate the positive feedback.

I think there was some confusion originally by some people about the sheep and about this grazing technique in particular, so here is a little more information :

Firstly, although these sheep are not owned or managed by Swangleys, they are looked after by an attentive and professional shepherd who we know has their wellbeing in mind, checks them every day and takes action where needed. Any important news that we get from our local community – for example a sheep found itself on the wrong side of the fence the other day – is always passed on to the shepherd.

It is worth explaining why these sheep are at the farm.  These sheep are “Mob grazing” a crop of stubble turnips under an environmental initiative in order that their droppings fertilise the soil and therefore reduce the farm’s need to apply artificial fertilisers. Mob grazing looks very different to the sheep grazing over grass that you might be more familiar with.  In grass grazing, sheep densities are low in order that a field’s grass supply is self sustaining. However, in mob grazing, large numbers of sheep are grazed on a relatively small area that is initially high in a food supply and then they are moved to a neighbouring fresh area once they have grazed the feedstock down sufficiently.  This maximises the environmental benefits of the technique, without impacting sheep welfare.  At no time are the sheep ever short on feed – they are simply moved to fresh feed at the right time to a new well-stocked home right next to the previous field strip.  In this way they gradually move around the farm.

Over the time the sheep have been with us, people have noticed the occasional lame sheep – that is, sheep with a limp.  Lameness is a recurring theme with sheep and, in reality, any substantial well-kept flock will at any point in time have some lame sheep.  Each of the sheep hosted at Swangleys had their feet trimmed (the main cause of lameness) on arrival and are treated as necessary or, where the shepherd has greater concerns, are routinely removed from the flock for closer care elsewhere.

Finally, can we say a special thankyou to the members of the community who stepped in to confront a group of youths who had broken some of the fence and were inside the field harrassing sheep.  Your actions protected the entire flock from a potentially very serious situation and are very much appreciated by both us and the sheep’s owner.

A new “first” for us……. sheep have arrived at Swangleys !

 

The sheep – 500 so far – are the key part of our latest environmental initiative.  We harvested our wheat this summer and we need the soil’s fertility improving for the summer 2026 harvest.  For many decades, we and most other farms have relied on artificial fertilisers, but last year we successfully trialled the use of compost made from garden waste as an organic and low carbon alternative.  This winter – on some of our fields that need it most – we are going to trial sheep droppings.

Immediately after summer 2025’s harvest, we planted “stubble turnips” – quite different from the turnips you find in the shops.  The turnips usefully gather up nutrients and so stop the winter weather leaching them out of the soil, plus their roots also help to break up soil structure to improve drainage.  Most importantly for us, sheep love them.  The sheep will now be rotation grazed around the fields of the Watton Road/Old Lane part of the farm and will leave behind droppings which are rich in the nutrients that the soil needs.  We will then plough the droppings in and plant cereal crops in the spring …………which will benefit from that natural fertiliser.

The sheep are not ours – instead the arrangement is a simple exchange with their owner :   our turnips for their sheep’s droppings.  Right now (early December), all the sheep are in the triangular field opposite the crematorium, but local residents will see them move from field to field over the next few months.

Thanks for the feedback on the sunflower strip alongside the Watton Road opposite the crematorium…… we like them too.

More importantly, the birds like them too.

This sunflower strip is an initiative we began about 3 years ago to provide additional biodiversity and, most importantly, late season food for non-migratory birds like finches (especially), blackbirds, robins and a variety of resident species. It’s been a success and so, each year, we have replanted hundreds of sunflowers.

Sunflowers are high in fat, have thin shells and so are easily accessible for birds and they keep their seeds high and dry for an extended period when other food sources are getting thin.

We also think they look attractive, which is a view we know some local people share.

Yesterday, trespassing youths set fire to one of our fields, burning 5 acres and destroying 70 metres of hedging.

 

The fire brigade and we rushed to Swangleys after an emergency callout to a field on fire yesterday afternoon.  Only through the quick response of Herts Fire & Rescue and through a stroke of sheer luck was our neighbouring farmer’s field of wheat – ready for harvest – not also destroyed.

Our direct experience and that of other local farms is that dry weather and school holidays bring field fires, set by youths trespassing where there is no public right of way.  These fires can have a devastating effect on farms financially, can threaten neighbouring properties and always tie up considerable Herts Fire & Rescue resources which are not then available for saving lives elsewhere.

In addition, this particular fire destroyed 70 metres of hedging we planted around 3 years ago as part of our drive for increasing biodiversity on the farm.  Our farm does not need hedges – we have no livestock to contain – and instead we plant hedges entirely for the wildlife that they bring.  That hard work and money spent on this stretch of hedge is now lost and we will need to start again if we are to replace the lost hedge.

For our neighbours this could have been a catastrophe.  We have sent our thanks to Herts Fire & Rescue for their help and would like to say another thankyou to anyone who phoned in the emergency on 999.  Thankyou for that – your prompt action prevented this turning into something even more damaging..