Flock Stars of InstaLamb: Meet the young women who quit their careers to become shepherdesses

Rolling hills under clear-blue skies, rare-breed sheep standing on frosty fields, shepherdesses tending their flocks and making it look so very inviting.

Forget one man and his dog — meet this flock of women and the sheep dogs carving out a shepherding career. Some turned their backs on city life for the call of the fell, while others have farming in their blood. But what they all have in common is a passion for sharing what they do with the wider world on Instagram.

Here, Beth Hale looks at the new breed of ‘Insta-shepherdesses’.

The townie who’s now wedded to her animals

Laura Hodgkins, 31, is four months pregnant and lives with husband Andy, 32, on a farm near Midhurst, West Sussex.

The flock: 10,300 followers on Instagram, 2,000 New Zealand Romney sheep and 200 cattle, along with collie Zac and Australian sheepdog Joe.

The journey: Laura once worked in marketing and advertising in London and Brighton, but meeting farmer Andy sparked a love of agriculture. When they saw a 700-acre farm taking tenders for tenancy in 2016, they took the plunge.

Laura Hodgkins, 31, is four months pregnant and lives with husband Andy, 32, on a farm near Midhurst, West Sussex

The day: By 7am Laura is out checking on the herd and putting up fencing. She gets around by quad bike and returns home by sunset.

The highs: ‘When I put up my first bit of fence on my own, I felt ridiculously proud.’

The lows: ‘Having to learn everything from scratch has been really frustrating.’

Fleecy fact: Laura is wedded to the job — when she and Andy married in 2017, she listed her occupation as shepherdess.

On Instagram as @girlaboutthefarm 

Hearing the call of the land after sailing the high seas 

Alison O’Neill, 55, farms alone (her daughter Scarlett, 19, is at university) across the fell land outside Sedbergh, Cumbria.

The flock: 6,580 followers on Instagram, 200 native breed sheep — 20 of which live as pets — as well as two fell ponies, dogs Shadow, Drifter and Mac, 20 hens and a cockerel.

Alison O’Neill, 55, farms alone (her daughter Scarlett, 19, is at university) across the fell land outside Sedbergh, Cumbria

Alison O’Neill, 55, farms alone (her daughter Scarlett, 19, is at university) across the fell land outside Sedbergh, Cumbria

The journey: A third-generation hill farmer, Alison spent more than a decade travelling the world working as a silver service waitress on yachts before she started farming 20 years ago.

The day: Alison is out by 6.30am to begin the three-hour round trip, on foot, to check her flock. When it snows heavily, the journey takes all day. She relies on her fell ponies for transport. She also has a tweed fashion brand, Shepherdess.

The highs: ‘Lambing is my favourite time, as well as the most trying. For eight weeks it’s all day and all night, but it’s all worthwhile.’

The lows: ‘When foot-and-mouth disease hit Cumbria I couldn’t sell any stock for a whole year. Financially everything crumbled, my marriage crumbled, but it probably made me stronger.’

Fleecy fact: Nature inspires Alison’s nail polish choices (she has blue nails if she’s seen a kingfisher, yellow when buttercups flower).

@theoriginalshepherdess 

From cutting hair to trimming hooves 

Zoe Colville, 28, is a tenant farmer with partner Christopher, 27, near Maidstone, Kent.

The flock: 870 followers on Instagram, 800 native breed sheep, Dexter cows, goats and a sheepdog-in-training — English springer spaniel Indie.

The journey: Zoe was a hairdresser in London when she met farmer Christopher and, four years ago, they found a farm to rent.

The day: Much of the flock do ‘conservation grazing’ (conservation land is often managed by grazing livestock). If a sheep needs its hooves trimming, Zoe does it; if it’s stuck in brambles, she pulls it out; and if a pregnant ewe topples over, then Zoe puts it back on its feet.

Zoe Colville, 28, is a tenant farmer with partner Christopher, 27, near Maidstone, Kent

Zoe Colville, 28, is a tenant farmer with partner Christopher, 27, near Maidstone, Kent

The highs: ‘Some people say their favourite time of year is Christmas, but for me it’s lambing — we see the fruits of our labour arrive.’

The lows: ‘Two lambs were born in a wood; both looked dead, but they were alive. I tube-fed them every two hours all night, but one died. I took it quite personally.’

Fleecy fact: Working in all weathers as a farm girl, Zoe indulges in a rigorous skincare regime. ‘It’s far more important than when you are working in an office,’ she says.

@the_chief_shepherdess

Ex-dancer who has sheep, will travel

Elizabeth Kneafsey, 40, lives with her son Harry, 15, in Nottinghamshire. She doesn’t have a farm; her sheep graze around to conserve the land.

The flock: 580 followers on Instagram, 70 sheep from primitive British breeds, border collie Kes, her pup Skye, and labrador Fin.

The journey: Elizabeth trained as an actress and dancer, then, after Harry was born, she did a course in countryside conservation. She then went to work for a Wildlife Trust, before striking out alone.

The day: Elizabeth rarely isn’t working. She also travels the country as a freelance shepherdess and runs her business Wild Wool, creating rugs from fleeces.

Elizabeth Kneafsey, 40, lives with her son Harry, 15, in Nottinghamshire. She doesn’t have a farm; her sheep graze around to conserve the land

Elizabeth Kneafsey, 40, lives with her son Harry, 15, in Nottinghamshire. She doesn’t have a farm; her sheep graze around to conserve the land

The highs: ‘I’m in my element when I’m in the countryside on my own, with my animals.’

The lows: ‘I face negativity because I am a woman. It’s still quite tough for a woman in this industry.’

Fleecy fact: When Elizabeth entered the sector, she was horrified by the waste she saw when it came to sheep products. She uses tallow for candles and bones for stock, while skins are tanned and horns become decorative.

@wildwoolshepherdess 

Designer is just loopy for lambs 

Katie Allen, 37, lives with her husband James, 44, in the Cotswolds, where she rents grazing land. They have four children between them — and a new arrival is imminent.

The flock: 2,400 followers on Instagram, 85 sheep from two rare British breeds, 17 British White cattle, border collie Bob, beagle Spencer, chickens, a rabbit and a hamster.

The journey: Katie had a graphic design business when her passion for grow-your-own led her to do a smallholder course. In 2010, she took the plunge with a smallholding in Cornwall. She moved to the Cotswolds in 2014 and set up Loopy Ewes, producing homeware and accessories from her sheep’s wool.

Katie Allen, 37, lives with her husband James, 44, in the Cotswolds, where she rents grazing land. They have four children between them — and a new arrival is imminent

Katie Allen, 37, lives with her husband James, 44, in the Cotswolds, where she rents grazing land. They have four children between them — and a new arrival is imminent

The day: Every day is a whirlwind, particularly during lambing time, which often requires night duty.

The highs: ‘There’s nothing like working with a material you have raised. I feel proud to do that.’

The lows: ‘In the hot summer, I had to gather the sheep and give them injections before getting the kids from school — all while I had morning sickness.’

Fleecy fact: Katie has never had to bottle-feed a lamb, as none of hers have been orphaned. Last year, her flock had 40 lambs. A seven-year-old ewe, who had never given birth before, even delivered twins.

@loopyewes

Marine expert who fell for farming

Hannah Jackson, 26, lives on her farm in Cumbria with boyfriend Mike, a former Royal Marine who works in the RAF.

The flock: 5,020 followers on Instagram, 120 sheep, four highland cows, two goats, a pig, chickens, ducks and three border collies: Fraser, Storm and Butch.

The journey: A city girl who grew up near Liverpool, Hannah was on holiday in the Lake District six years ago when she saw a lamb birth. She deferred her place on a masters course in marine biology, got work experience on a sheep farm — and stayed.

The day: Jobs include worming and fell gathering (getting the sheep off the wild fell). Hannah also freelances for farmers.

Hannah Jackson, 26, lives on her farm in Cumbria with boyfriend Mike, a former Royal Marine who works in the RAF

Hannah Jackson, 26, lives on her farm in Cumbria with boyfriend Mike, a former Royal Marine who works in the RAF

The highs: ‘I love fell gathering, when all the sheep farmers gather with their dogs and tackle a different part of the mountain. With no fences or hedges, it’s exhausting, but it’s so beautiful up there.’

The lows: ‘Last year, one of my farmers had a lot of sheep stuck in snow drifts. I had to ski three miles to get there, but some didn’t make it, which was horrible.’

Fleecy fact: Her parents Mandy and Stuart work with the NHS, but, inspired by their daughter, took a lambing course and spend Thursday to Sunday on the farm.

@redshepherdess

The Indiana Jones of shepherdesses

Gala Bailey-Barker, 28, is mum to Elsie, five months, and lives with her partner, architect George Shepard, 30, on a community farm in Sussex.

The flock: 2,500 followers on Instagram, 100 ewes, 35 milking cows, a beef herd, three pigs, 400 hens and sheepdog Pip.

The journey: Gala studied archaeology before asking to volunteer at Plaw Hatch Farm. She became an apprentice and stayed.

The day: She feeds the animals, then jumps in the truck to check the sheep over 500 acres. Gala is also responsible for the pigs and milks cows.

Gala Bailey-Barker, 28, is mum to Elsie, five months, and lives with her partner, architect George Shepard, 30, on a community farm in Sussex

Gala Bailey-Barker, 28, is mum to Elsie, five months, and lives with her partner, architect George Shepard, 30, on a community farm in Sussex

The highs: ‘In winter, the smell of silage reminds me of summer.’

The lows: ‘This month there was a dog attack in a field of pregnant ewes. We put 15 down and don’t know if any of the other 17 kept their babies.’

Fleecy fact: Gala is one of three shepherdesses at Plaw Hatch Farm.

@farmergala 

Given a flock aged 13 

Katy Davies, 27, lives with her partner Dafydd, 27, and son Daf, nine, on the family farm in Carmarthen.

The flock: 2,100 followers on Instagram, Katy’s 53 sheep, her parents’ 250 sheep, her sister’s pedigree cattle and sheepdog Fly.

The journey: Katy didn’t have any doubts. At 13, she was given her first flock for Christmas.

The day: Katy is an expert lambing assistant and puts in 16-hour shifts during the lambing season.

Katy Davies, 27, lives with her partner Dafydd, 27, and son Daf, nine, on the family farm in Carmarthen

Katy Davies, 27, lives with her partner Dafydd, 27, and son Daf, nine, on the family farm in Carmarthen

The highs: ‘We had a reserve place in one of the classes at the Royal Welsh Show — some people try for 30 to 40 years and never get that.’

The lows: ‘Once we lambed during awful weather. Nothing could keep some of those lambs alive.’

Fleecy fact: Katy gave son Daf his first flock when he was five.

@wildwelshshepherdess 

Star graduate with a love of lambs 

Harriet Foster-Thornton, 23, lives on her family farm in Lincolnshire with her parents, William and Sharon, and sister Georgie, 24.

The flock: 990 followers on Instgram, 42 sheep, miniature Shetland ponies Belle and Twinkle, cats Archie, Bobbie and Billie, chickens, and patterdale terrier Roxy.

The journey: The farm has been in the family for 400 years, but Harriet is the first shepherdess. She has a first-class degree in photography, but her shepherding career took off when she adopted her first cade (orphaned and bottle-fed) lambs.

The day: Harriet is also a marketing assistant, so life is a balancing act. When the flock was bottle-feeding, she dashed back for mealtimes.

Harriet Foster-Thornton, 23, lives on her family farm in Lincolnshire with her parents, William and Sharon, and sister Georgie, 24

Harriet Foster-Thornton, 23, lives on her family farm in Lincolnshire with her parents, William and Sharon, and sister Georgie, 24

The highs: ‘Each sheep has its own personality, habits and little noises — it’s like they are talking to you. I’m so happy I reared them.’

The lows: ‘I had a lamb that didn’t grow well, but was so friendly. When she died it really got to me.’

Fleecy fact: Harriet sells her lambs through meat box schemes, so people can eat locally produced meat. She’s just had her first sheepskin rugs tanned.

@thewildshepherdess

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk