As a brand inspired entirely by the iconic Herdwick sheep, this visit felt especially important to us. While we already know a great deal about the breed, we wanted to learn more from someone who lives and breathes Herdwicks every day, Jo, who runs the Herdwick Experience at Yew Tree Farm.

On a beautifully warm spring day, Diane and Spencer Hannah, co-founders of Herdy, joined me, Sally Proctor, Herdy’s Comms and Social Manager, for a truly memorable day at Yew Tree Farm in Coniston.

Our visit had two aims: to deepen our understanding of the breed that inspired Herdy and to gather content for our brand-new children’s book collection, with some very special Herdwick models taking centre stage.

What a day it turned out to be.

We were treated to one of those perfect Lake District spring days, bright blue skies, warm sunshine, lush green fields, and the kind of stillness that encourages you to slow down and take it all in.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear this would be much more than a photoshoot.

The experience began in one of the farm barns, where Jo delivered a fascinating talk on the history of Herdwick sheep, traditional fell farming, and the unique qualities that make the breed so special. The setting added to the charm: sitting in the barn surrounded by the sights and sounds of the farm, with a barn full of newborn lambs nearby and Jo’s sheepdogs quietly joining us throughout the session.

Even though Herdwicks are a huge part of everyday life at Herdy, we all learned something new. Jo’s passion and knowledge gave us an even greater appreciation for the next part of the experience, meeting the sheep themselves.

After the talk, Jo led us up an old track into the fields overlooking the Coniston fells. The scenery was breathtaking. Standing amongst the Herdwicks, surrounded by rolling green hills and spring sunshine, felt incredibly special.

Of course, the sheep needed a little encouragement to interact with us, and by encouragement, we mean food.

Armed with feed buckets and cameras, we quickly discovered just how enthusiastic Herdwicks can be when snacks are involved. Before long, we were surrounded by curious sheep investigating everything we’d brought along, including our Herdy soft toys, which they found particularly fascinating.

One Herdwick in particular stole the show.

Harvey quickly became the star model of the day. Always smiling, endlessly curious, and clearly comfortable in front of the camera, he posed beautifully with our new children’s books and somehow managed to look as though he was reading, and even laughing, in some of the photographs. We’re fairly certain Vogue has been overlooking a future cover star.

One of the loveliest surprises was just how affectionate the sheep were. Jo explained that Herdwicks love a proper scratch and encouraged us to dig right through their thick fleece to give them a good rub. We were amazed by how dense their coats were.

Once a Herdwick decided it liked you, it really liked you. Some happily sat beside us soaking up attention, while others attempted to climb onto our laps if they felt they weren’t receiving enough fuss. It was impossible not to laugh.

What stayed with us most, however, was the overwhelming sense of calm. Sitting quietly amongst the sheep in their natural environment, listening to the breeze across the fells and the occasional contented sheep snuffling beside you, was incredibly grounding.

Learning about the history of Herdwicks, their role in shaping the Lake District landscape, and the traditions of fell farming made our time with the sheep even more meaningful. It was a powerful reminder of how special these animals are and how fortunate we were to spend time with them.

At Herdy, we champion the Herdwick breed every day, but when you're busy running a business, it’s easy to lose sight of the roots that inspired it. This experience was a wonderful reminder of exactly why we started.

We left Yew Tree Farm with hundreds of photographs, plenty of sheep selfies, a camera full of content for our new children’s books, and a renewed appreciation for the remarkable Herdwick sheep and the people who care for them.

A huge thank you to Jo for sharing her knowledge, passion, and time with us. The Herdwick Experience is something truly special, and we’d wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone visiting the Lake District.

You can book your experience here: Book Now