Summary of the Dutch/Frisian website in English language

The name of this company is: "Heerdgong" and is a neologisme in Frisian language of the dutch word "heerdgang". In English the word is translated as "herdwick". Not only the name refers to  the techniques of working, walking and sailing of the herd, it also refers to one of the breeds used: "the Herdwick" sheep of Lake District in the UK. As a logo we use the very pronounced head of the Scottish Blackface sheep, also an substantial part of our herd.

Besides these breeds, we use the native "Zwartbles" sheep. Black sheep, high legged en with white socks, end of the tail en white stripe ('bles') on de face.

These sheep, mixed in a herd in summertime, graze different kinds of projects in the South West of the Frisian landscape. The southwest area of this dutch province, with her own old language and history, is geomorphologic related to the lake district. But more flat, much more cultivated en crowded as the NW English counterpart.

In autumn and winter the Herdwicks and Scottish Blackfaces sail to the islands in the several lakes (Lake district of the Netherlands) in this province for maintainance of the isles. The sheep were easily adapted to these conditions.

We experimented with several breeds, but the Herdwick has proven the best breed adapted to the conditions and vegetation specific for this landscape. Along with the Blackies. The native Zwartbles is less adapted to the strong winters of the past years.

Additional, we use a small group of N.E.European breeds for wool: The wool is used for filting and handling for local artists. We use some Prussian Romanows, Norwegian Spaelsau, and Swedish Gotlanders.

In 2012 the herd will be extended with 3 sheep breeds, additional and experimental: The Jacob sheep, the Wiltshore Horn and a group of Welsh Hill Speckle Faces. (the 3 perfect Welsh Hill's we already had in our herd, where crossbreeds of Scottish Blackface x Kerry Hill)

In summer we walk, controlled by the sheperd and his dogs, through de country in several projects. Not only the nature reservation of several places for divers organisations, also private projects for special flora (and fauna), and project for sustainability for the local governments.

Strong adaptive breed is an central part of our activity: the Herdwick en horned Scots are a rare breed in this part of Europe. But in historical and archeological survey there is a link: the Herdwick is the most 'look a like' of a former breed in the Southwest, the small hills of Gaasterland, the 'look al like' of the Scottish Blackfaces are found in the soil, and the remainings shown in musea.

The company restores a use of authenticity in the region, not only by sheep themself , but also in the way they are used. Were the herd moves around the soil will  slowly excaust, by offering one small place where the sheep stay in the night en where the most of the menure will stay. This is an authentic way of using the herd. In and before the 19th century this method was gratefully used, because the menure could thus be used for enriching the agricultural soil. In the landscape there are remainings of the places where once use to stay cattle near local communities.

In an enviroment of dairy and green meadows for cows, we try to be additional, without disturbing any excisting activity of dairy farmers. And thus making the landscape endurance sustainable en authentic. The vitality, health and birth, have proven to be much better then the common used Texel and Swifter sheep.

.

Sailing with the sheep  nowadays is also  restoring an old tradition. In the "lake district" of the Netherlands:  the province of Fryslân (Friesland), all frisian communities and the province work together in a foundation called "the Marrekrite", to maintain the islands. Not only the places for the ships to have a good harbour (the use of re-melted agricultural plastics in stead of wood) , but also the nature of the beautifull isles. In september when the lakes and isles are quiet, the sheep start with their sailing around, till mai.

In summertime the herd walks along projects of a diversity of purposes and owners. One especially should be mentioned: "Epemastate" ("Epema estate") near Sneek. This old garden surrounding the estate posessed once a rich variety of non-local flora.  It is called "Stinsen- planten". The herd tries to get back the rare population of vegetation. A similar Brittish counterpart can be found on the Scilly islands (Tresco Abbey Gardens) , but there it is on a much larger scale,  more man made and -maintained and with sub-tropical vegetation.

For information: please use e-mail or call: 0031 515444233

For the future we are looking for an brittish associate. Because of the very limited DNA of the English, Scottish or Irish breeds on the mainland of Europe, we are looking for more DNA diversity, as an important part of the sustainibility of this kind of landscape maintaince.

.