NORTH Sheep 2021 is to take place in Northumberland.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has announced that the biennial events will be hosted by JE Woodman & Son at Bradford House Farm near Ponteland on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.

JE Woodman & Son is a farming enterprise headed up by noted livestock farmer Willie Woodman. Willie, who farms with his wife Christine and son Marti,n will provide a glimpse into a traditional Northumberland farm.

The 2,130 acres they farm are located at two bases, 30 miles apart, and include the 930-acre Bradford House Farm and the 1,200-acre Great Chesters, a hill farm in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall.

Organised by the Northern Regional Committee of the NSA, North Sheep is a showcase for all sectors of the sheep industry and a key date in the diary for the thousands of people who attend. With hundreds of trades stands, a series of seminars, and dozens of demonstrations this is an event which encompasses all aspects of the sheep farming industry.

With the Woodmans’ sheep-farming enterprise focusing on producing top quality prime lambs which are sold at Hexham Mart, the farm tour will be highly anticipated and form an integral part of the day.

Bradford Farm is a traditional mid Northumberland livestock and arable farm purchased by the Woodman family in 2002 to complement Great Chesters. Today it is home to a lowland flock of 250 Mule ewes and 200 Texel-cross ewes and it is a base to grow wheat, barley, oilseed rape and beans.

The flock at Great Chesters has 700 Blackface ewes, of which 250 are bred to the blackface for replacements ewe lambs and the other 500 are put to the Blu- Faced Leicesters to breed mule lambs.

The Woodmans also have 270 cattle, mainly Limousin crosses with a few British Blue crosses, with 50 to 60 bulling heifers. The overall sheep farming enterprise is self-sufficient with the exception of some bought in tups, usually sourced from Hexham Mart.

Willie Woodman, who has been a member of the NSA for many years, said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to have been invited to host this important sheep industry event and we are delighted to do this because it is also a showcase for Northumberland livestock.

“We are looking forward to welcoming people to the farm next year. Our aim is to give people the chance to see a traditional Northumberland farm along with traditional Northumberland livestock.

“The farm tours will give people the opportunity to see the farm first-hand, our flock of Texels and Mules, the cattle which we sell forward stores and will bring down a display of Blackface sheep from the Great Chesters flock.”

Matt Bagley, chair of NSA North Sheep 2021, said: “It is ten years since NSA North Sheep has been held in Northumberland and this is not only a tremendous farm, it is easily accessible and centrally located. The farm is located in one of the UK’ major sheep-producing areas and I know that those attending will be keen to see how a successful Northumbrian sheep farming family like the Woodmans run their enterprises.”

For details about sponsorship and trade stand space please see the event website www.northsheep.org.uk or contact event organiser Heather Stoney-Grayshon on email heather@nationalsheep.org.uk