Hardenclough Farm

James Metcalfe, is the third generation of the family to farm the tenanted 350 acre hill farm, Hardenclough Farm, in the Peak District in Derbyshire.

Hardenclough is a challenging farm due to all being north facing and running low quality pasture. Stocking by previous generations has been a stratified system of Swaledale ewes crossed with Blue Faced Leicesters and North of England Mules crossed with Suffolks and Texels.

Under the current management, the sheep flock is based around 500 North Country Cheviots bred both pure and crossed with Traditional BFL rams and a small herd of pedigree Luing cattle.

Small flocks of both Herdwick and Badgerface Welsh Mountains are also kept on the farm.

James is no stranger to judging, and is excited about his upcoming role at the NAHSS.

GANOL Flock, Sennybridge, Rhondda Cynon Taff, United Kingdom

Mr. Steven Forsyth runs the GANOL flock of Black Welsh Mountain sheep in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales. He has kept the BWM’S for 30 years. In 2024 he won the National Flock Competition in the UK, which was open to all of its members. Steven has judged all three of the Royal shows with the BWMs in consecutive years: the Royal Welsh Show, the Royal Three Counties Show, and the Royal Bath and West Show. He has also judged numerous shows in Wales and England, as well as at the breed society show and sales in the UK. He has also sold his BWMs all over the UK and once held the breeds highest priced male .

While at the NAHSS, he will be giving a presentation on the status of the sheep industry in the UK, and especially concerning the Black Welsh Mountain breed.

Another breed Mr. Forsyth has kept for his family, namely his daughter, is the Shetland sheep breed. His daughter has used Shetlands in many art projects in university.

In Wales, Steven does quite a bit of rural craft work during winter time, mainly the ancient craft of Hedge Laying, which he does across South Wales and into the border counties of England as well. In 1994, Steven and his friend attempted the World Hedge Laying Record, which they beat and is still standing after 30 years in the Guinness Book of Records today.

Steven has also diversified in to pumpkin and tulip patches, which are open to the public.

“I am very honoured to have been asked to judge the Black Welsh Mountains and Shetlands at this years show, and look forward to meeting the exhibitors and their sheep.”