Herdy in the News

We’ve got some very exciting news to share… Herdy is heading into the world of children’s books! Herdy has secured a global publishing deal with leading international illustrated book publisher Quarto – a huge milestone in our journey and one of the biggest moments in Herdy’s history. For a brand that began life in the Lake District nearly 20 years ago, seeing Herdy on bookstore shelves around the world is something we’re incredibly proud to celebrate. From 4th September, our first collection of Herdy books will be available in bookshops worldwide, and you can pre-order them now from Herdy and leading booksellers. Created especially for little readers:  Goodnight, Herdy – a cosy felt-flap bedtime adventure Herdy’s Fun Day – a playful felt-flap board book packed with fun Out and About with Herdy – an activity-filled sticker book for curious little explorers For nearly 20 years, Herdy has been bringing smiles through gifts, accessories and homeware inspired by the Lake District and its famous Herdwick sheep. Now, we’re delighted to bring our cheeky little character to life in a whole new way. Inspired by the real Herdwick sheep that roam the Lakeland fells, Herdy is adventurous, playful and full of curiosity. Whether exploring the hills, playing with friends or setting off on a new adventure, he’s always ready to discover something new. The book launch is the result of two years of collaboration with the talented team at Tall House Creative Agency and our publishing partner Happy Yak, an imprint of Quarto. At Herdy, we’ve always believed in spreading joy and celebrating the place that inspired us. The Lake District has produced some of Britain’s most beloved literary characters, and we’re proud that Herdy is taking his next step on that journey. We can’t wait for you and your little ones to meet Herdy in book form and share in the fun, laughter and adventures ahead. Pre-orders are open NOW – and we’re counting down the days until 4th September!

We’re absolutely thrilled to share one of our latest collaborations. We’ve teamed up with the wonderful Brathay Trust to create a very special fundraising notebook celebrating their incredible 80th anniversary! The notebook brings together two things we love most: Exploring the great outdoors in The Lake District and Herdy. Filled with playful illustrations of Herdy taking part in adventurous outdoor activities inspired by Brathay’s programmes, it’s a joyful celebration of adventure and young people discovering their potential. And there’s an extra little surprise hidden inside too! The notebook features a fun flip-book animation in the corner of the pages — so when you quickly flick through, you’ll see a team of Herdy's rowing a boat together across the water. It’s a playful little nod to teamwork, adventure and the outdoor spirit that sits right at the heart of Brathay’s work. We absolutely loved bringing this idea to life as part of the design process. Since 1946, Brathay has been inspiring young people to build brighter futures. Working with over 7,000 young people every year from across the UK, they support children and young adults from their school years right through to early careers. Their unique blend of residential outdoor experiences in the heart of the Lake District, alongside community-based programmes in Bradford and Cumbria, helps young people grow in confidence, resilience and ambition. We especially love that Brathay’s work combines adventure with real, lasting impact. Their experiential programmes encourage teamwork, leadership and self-belief — and thanks to their strong evaluation framework, they can clearly see the positive difference their support makes to young people’s lives long after the programmes end. As a proudly Lake District-based brand ourselves, we’ve always admired the amazing work Brathay does both locally and nationally. Being part of their 80th anniversary celebrations has been such a privilege, and honestly, we absolutely loved designing this notebook. Creating illustrations that captured the fun, energy and adventurous spirit of Brathay was a real joy for the Herdy team. Our co-founder Diane Hannah said: “For 80 years Brathay has been making a real difference to families both here in our Lake District home and further afield. We’re delighted to have created this Herdy notebook in partnership with the Trust, and we hope it will raise valuable funds for them in their anniversary year.” Teresa Jennings, Chief Executive of Brathay Trust, added: “We’re delighted to be working with Herdy as part of our 80th year celebrations. This Herdy and Brathay collaboration has culminated in the production of a special notebook which perfectly captures the spirit of Brathay Trust.” We’re so proud to have played a small part in supporting Brathay’s inspiring work — and we hope this notebook spreads a little Lake District joy while helping raise valuable funds for a truly brilliant cause.  

Herdy is delighted to have donated a brand-new mural to the Springboard Child Development Centre in Carlisle, helping to brighten the waiting area for children and families visiting the centre. The colourful mural features Herdy enjoying some of Carlisle’s best-loved landmarks, including Carlisle Castle, Cathedral and Racecourse, as well as a special Herdy character dressed in Carlisle United Football Club’s iconic strip. Designed to create a warm and welcoming environment, the artwork aims to bring a little joy, comfort and distraction to young visitors during their appointments. Springboard Child Development Centre is part of Cumbria’s NHS services and supports children and young people with complex needs. Their specialist multidisciplinary team works closely with families to assess and support children who may need extra help reaching developmental milestones. Bridget Newton Carruthers, Team Lead Children’s Community Nursing Service at Springboard Child Development Centre, said “We are absolutely delighted with the mural Herdy has kindly donated to our centre. The bright colours and familiar Carlisle landmarks have created such a cheerful and engaging space for the children and families who visit us. We’ve already seen lots of smiles and lovely comments from parents and children, and it has made a real difference to the atmosphere in our waiting area.”   This is the third NHS mural Herdy has donated across Cumbria, following previous installations at Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal and the Penrith Urgent Treatment Centre. Supporting spaces that care for children and families remains something very close to the Herdy team’s heart. Herdy Co-founder Diane Hannah said: “At Herdy, we’ve always believed in spreading smiles wherever we can, and we’re so pleased to support the wonderful team at Springboard Child Development Centre. We hope the mural helps make visits feel a little less daunting for children and provides a fun and friendly distraction for families spending time at the centre. It’s been a privilege to create something especially for the children of Carlisle and Cumbria.” We hope our mural will help make visits just a little brighter and continue bringing smiles to young faces for years to come.  

Here are just a few of the things that made us smile in 2025 🐑✨ January La’al bit windy: Storm Eowyn rolled into Cumbria, with gusts over 100mph! Luckily, our fleecy friends are well suited to these blustery conditions.  Line Notebook: Our first product launch of the year was the Line Notebook. Made from stone paper, it quickly became the perfect pick-up for note-taking, list-making and doodling during meetings (we won’t tell).  McHerdy: In January we introduced a new member to the flock, McHerdy! Dressed in traditional Scottish garb, McHerdy’s dressed ready for the Highlands with a stylish kilt, a tam o’ shanter, a sporran, and even a set of bagpipes, capturing the spirit of Scotland in an irresistibly cute way.     February Valentine’s Window: Love was well and truly in the air this February as our shops celebrated Valentine’s Day. A huge Herdy heart filled our windows — spreading the love and (hopefully) making ewe smile as you passed by. Herdy Tattoo: Over the years we’ve received photos of some amazing Herdy tattoos. In February we added the wonderful Sarah to the list with her fab-ewe-lous Herdy tattoo — now that’s true brand devotion! Love Your Pet Day: To celebrate Love Your Pet Day, we ran a competition giving you the chance to win a personalised ‘Herdification’ portrait of your pet. We were flooded with hundreds of incredible entries — and every single one made us smile.     March Gizmo: The winner of our Love Your Pet Day competition was announced — the paw-some Gizmo, who is (officially) a very good boy. His spectac-ewe-lar birthday party photo made us all laugh at Herdy HQ. Choosing just one winner felt impossible, as every dog, cat, rabbit, goat, budgie, lizard and hamster submitted deserved to be Herdified. Colour Dash Sponsorship: Team Herdy was thrilled to once again sponsor the Kendal Colour Dash, proudly supporting the amazing St John’s Hospice. This marked Herdy’s fourth year sponsoring the event, and once again we designed ewe-nique medals for all the baa-rilliant runners.  Wool Collection: Our annual wool collection day isn’t just a logistical necessity — it’s the foundation of our relationship with the Lake District’s farming community. On a gloriously sunny day in March, the tradition unfolded once again at Hall Dunnerdale Farm in the Duddon Valley. Farmers Paddy and Jasmine welcomed Spencer and Sally Proctor to collect this year’s beautiful Herdwick fleeces, ready to be turned in to our award winning Herdysleep Mattress.      April April Fools: Our annual April Fool’s prank returned — and this year it went big. Very big. We surprised our followers with the ‘launch’ of the world’s first town-sized cuddly toy: GIANT Little Herdy. Too big to fit in your house, impossible to lift, and potentially causing spontaneous road closures.  Herdy at Beetham: Herdy joined in with the fun at this year's Easter Trail at Beetham Nurseries. Visitors to the nursery explored the beautiful surroundings in search of Herdy, hiding amongst the greenery. Those lucky enough to find all the Herdys were rewarded with a prize.  Penrith Urgent Treatment Centre Mural: To celebrate #RandomActsofKindness, Team Herdy donated two vibrant wall murals to Penrith UTC. Designed to brighten the waiting area and triage room, the murals feature local landmarks like Lowther Castle and the Beacon — along with a tribute to the real-life heroes of the UTC, from paramedics to nurses. We hope they bring smiles to young patients and their families.     May Bay Hospitals Charity Donation: Thanks to your incredible support, we raised £6,477.50 for Bay Hospitals Charity through sales of our limited edition NHS 75th Anniversary collection. The funds will help purchase equipment that enhances patient care and experience in The Bay area, bringing specialised treatments closer to home. Lake District Mountain Rescue Donation: Sales of our Mountain Rescue Ewe Tubes helped raise £2,541 for the incredible volunteers of Lake District Mountain Rescue. Every penny raised will go towards supporting these brave local heroes who keep our fells safe. Product Launches: June was bursting with colour as we launched lots of fun new products including a new mug collection and our Hello water bottles and flasks — bright, bold and perfect for summer adventures.     June Lake District Tea Towels: We celebrated the county we call home with five Lake District-themed tea towels — one for each of our Herdy shop locations. Featuring iconic landmarks like Wray Castle, the Pencil Museum and even Postman Pat, they were a real love letter to the Lakes. Design a Herdy Bag Competition: To celebrate summer visitors to the Lakes, we launched a competition inviting customers to design a Herdy carrier bag. One winning design will be transformed into a real Herdy bag, proudly featured across all five of our Lake District stores. Booths Tea Towels: We teamed up with our friends at Booths to create two bespoke tea towels for their Yorkshire and Lancashire stores. Featuring Herdy browsing the aisles, resting his hooves in the café and picking up treats from the baker — shopping never looked so cute.     July Diane Eva Nomination: Can ewe believe it — Herdy was nominated for The Evas, the UK’s largest celebration of women in business! Our co-founder Diane proudly led the flock in the Family Business category. While we didn’t take home the trophy, we had a fabulous night at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Huge thanks to the EVA Awards for the honour. Great Yorkshire Show: Herdy (and Sheppy) were back on the road for this year’s summer shows, including the iconic Great Yorkshire Show. It was wonderful to spread some Herdy joy at the event and bump into some of our distant relatives.  Little Herdy in Antarctica: Little Herdy went on the ultimate adventure, joining explorer and University of Cumbria alumni Bin Sun on a journey to Antarctica. Little Herdy ventured to Antarctica's highest peak, luckily, his Herdwick fleece kept him nice and toasty.     August Grasmere School Notebook: To celebrate 400 years of Grasmere School, we created a limited edition notebook — just 500 made! Packed with Lake District charm and cartwheeling Herdys, all proceeds supported the school’s fundraising plans. Huggable Herdy: We welcomed the newest and squishiest member of the flock — Huggable Herdy. With his rotund tummy and super-soft fleece, he stole hearts instantly and became a forever friend. World Photography Competition: To celebrate World Photography Day, we asked for your best Herdwick or sheepdog photos. With over 400 entries, choosing a winner was tough, but congratulations went to Great Langdale Camping for their adorable Herdwick snap.     September Fragrance Collection Launch: September welcomed the arrival of our home fragrance collection, featuring our bespoke ‘ewe’ scent. The range included a ceramic candle, diffuser and wax melt burner, bringing a little Herdy calm into homes everywhere. Herdy’s 18th Birthday: Herdy turned 18! Since launching in 2007, it’s been quite the journey — and we couldn’t have done it without all of ewe. Eskdale Show: Congrat-ewe-lations to Patrick Fitzwilliam and his World Champion Herdwick Sheep who took home the prize for a second year running! Herdy was very proud to have sponsored this year's award at the Eskdale show, shining a light on the very best of the Herdwick breed.     October Product Launches: October was bursting at the seams with launches, from car fragrances to colourful socks and our Christmas collection. Which was your favorite?  Traitor Herdy: Little Herdy donned a green cape and lantern as he got swept up in Traitors mania. While Alan Carr may have won the show, Little Herdy (and Sheppy’s unforgettable Claudia fringe) won our hearts — reaching over 150,000 people on socials! Design a Herdy Bag Winner: Huge congratulations to Lindsey Cooper, the winner of our Design a Herdy Bag competition. Her beautiful design perfectly captured Lake District life, keep your eyes peeled for it in stores next year.     November Christmas Windows: Our Christmas windows were installed early November to spread festive cheer throughout the lakes! Our 5 Lake District stores were chock full of Christmas goodies, including our new christmas mug, tea towel and festive cards. Christmas Freebies: We launched our festive printable freebies, including an adorable Christmas Herdy village — perfect for keeping hands busy in the run-up to Christmas. Bedding Launch: Our final product launch of the year was a big one, Herdy duvet sets! Fully reversible and made from premium 100% cotton sateen, they’re designed for the cosiest night’s sleep.     December Herdy Hampers: Our founder Diane was busy doing Christmas deliveries in early December, as we delivered 750 bespoke Herdy hampers to the Cumberland Building Society. Commissioned to celebrate their 175Th anniversary. These hampers were a festive treat for all their colleagues and an absolute joy to put together Christmas Recipe: It wouldn't be christmas without a festive herdy recipe. This year, we made chocolate cookie place name to decorate your table. Each with a space to write each guests name, just try not to eat them before the turkey arrives! Jungle Herdy: There was a very last minute contender for this year’s King of the jungle. Unfortunately, little herdy missed out on the top prize, but on the positive side, he didn't have to eat any creepy crawlies.     Thank ewe for giving us such joy in 2025. We wish ewe a happy, healthy and fun-filled New Year. Here’s to 2026 🥂🐑  

Last weekend Herdy had the pleasure of being part of two wonderful events that celebrated the rich history of sheep farming and the bright future of young farmers. From the historic streets of London to the fells of Cumbria, it was truly a woolly weekend to remember.   IMAGE: This Media Lark - The Worshipful Company of Woolmen Sheep on the Bridge: The Annual Sheep Drive & Livery Fair, London Each autumn, the heart of London comes alive with an ancient tradition. The annual Sheep Drive across Southwark Bridge. This event goes back hundreds of years, to when farmers would ‘drive’ their flocks into the city to sell at market. The privilege of crossing the bridge toll-free belonged to Freemen of the City of London. A right that symbolised the deep connection between the city and its rural suppliers. Although the original practice faded with the arrival of motor vehicles in the early 20th century. It was joyfully revived in 2013 by the Worshipful Company of Woolmen. Today, it’s not just about history — the Sheep Drive and its lively Livery Fair celebrate British wool, farming traditions, and the enduring bond between urban life and the countryside. This year’s event was filled with colour, character, and of course, sheep! Special guest Adam Henson — well-known author and Countryfile presenter — led a flock across the bridge, much to the delight of the crowds. Adam also stopped by our Herdy stand, where we were showcasing our Herdycountry range, made with our own unique blend of Herdwick wool from Lake District farms. Alongside this, visitors were able to discover our Herdysleep mattress and 100% British wool bedding. Perfect examples of how wool continues to play an important role in modern life. For Herdy, being part of this day is about more than sharing our products. It’s about standing proudly with British Wool. Celebrating the incredible farmers who raise and care for the sheep, and helping to keep a centuries-old tradition alive in a modern world.   IMAGE: Jasmine and Patrick Fitzwilliam - Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association Honouring Future Farmers: The Eskdale Show, Cumbria While the streets of London were filled with sheep, back home in Cumbria another celebration of farming was taking place: The Eskdale Show. Nestled in the stunning Western Lake District. This traditional agricultural show is one of the highlights of the Cumbrian calendar. It brings together farmers, families, and communities for a day of competitions, crafts, and camaraderie. For Herdy, the highlight of the day was sponsoring the World Champion Herdwick Award. This year’s winners were young farming couple Patrick (Paddy) Fitzwilliam and his partner Jasmine, from Hall Dunnerdale Farm in the Duddon Valley. Managing a flock of 250 Herdwick sheep on the rugged slopes of Caw Fell, Paddy and Jasmine embody the future of upland fell farming. Their passion and dedication shine through in everything they do. Paddy, a third-generation farmer, takes immense pride in the quality of his flock’s fleece. While Jasmine, with her background in animal management, brings her own deep love and knowledge to the farm. The couple recently welcomed their first child, making this win even more special. Herdy has an extra connection to Paddy and Jasmine, too. They are one of the farms we work with to source Herdwick wool for our Herdysleep mattresses. So seeing them take home the champion’s trophy felt particularly meaningful. It was the second time Paddy has won the award with the same ewe — a testament to his skill and dedication. Our very own retail manager, Emma, was there to cheer them on and help present the prize. The Eskdale Show is more than just competition; it’s about celebrating community, heritage, and the people who will carry these traditions forward. Watching young farmers like Paddy and Jasmine thrive gives us huge hope for the future of Herdwick sheep and upland farming in Cumbria.

Herdy and Grasmere School Celebrate 400 Years of Education with Limited-Edition Notebook To celebrate an extraordinary 400 years of education in the heart of the Lake District, Herdy has teamed up with Grasmere School to create a beautifully illustrated, limited-edition notebook. A cheerful tribute to four centuries of learning, community, and heritage. The notebook was officially launched during the school’s end-of-year performance of Matilda. With only 500 copies available, this special edition item is being sold exclusively through Grasmere School and the Herdy Grasmere shop and is already generating a buzz in the local community. The design was generously donated by the creative team at Herdy, who took inspiration from the school’s rich history and spectacular Lake District surroundings. Brimming with charm and local character, the notebook’s cover features playful Herdy figures exploring the fells, splashing in streams, picking daffodils in a nod to Wordsworth, rowing boats, and even cartwheeling through the scenery. Well known village landmarks, including the school, the church, the local school bus, and the Gingerbread shop (once the original schoolhouse) are beautifully illustrated, bringing the vibrant community and its story to life. Kate Gunia, graphic designer for Herdy said “It was a really fun and rewarding project to be involved with and great to know the school will benefit from the funds raised”. “We are absolutely thrilled to be collaborating with the iconic Herdy brand on the Grasmere School notebook, a beautiful celebration of 400 years of education at the heart of our village,” said Jo Goode, Head Teacher at Grasmere School. “This partnership not only honours our rich history but also helps secure our future, with all proceeds going toward ensuring Grasmere School continues to support and inspire the children of our community for the next 400 years.” Herdy, which opened its first shop in Grasmere in 2010, was a natural partner for the project. “Grasmere has a very special place in our hearts, being the location of our first ever shop,” said Sally Proctor, Herdy’s Social and Communications Manager. “We were delighted to be asked to help celebrate this incredible milestone for the school, and to create something meaningful, full of character, and guaranteed to make people smile.” All proceeds from notebook sales will go towards Grasmere School’s ambitious £200,000 fundraising campaign. Aimed at improving and extending the school’s facilities. Plans include creating new indoor spaces for meals, activities, and community use; essential developments to ensure the school continues to thrive for generations to come.

Here at Herdy, we are thrilled to announce the success of our recent fundraising initiative in support of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA). Thanks to your incredible support, we raised an impressive £2,541 through sales of our special edition 'Mountain Rescue' Ewe Tube. We were delighted to hear from Nick Owen, a representative from LDSAMRA, who shared just how much this support means to their teams. “We’re incredibly thankful to Herdy and everyone who supported this fundraiser. The money raised will go towards helping all the mountain rescue teams across the Lake District. As a service run solely on donations, this support is essential for us to continue our work”.   LDSAMRA is a vital lifeline in the Lake District, comprising 12 volunteer teams and over 400 skilled individuals who respond to emergency calls 24/7, 365 days a year. From maintaining rescue vehicles to ensuring top-notch training and equipment, the funds raised will directly support their lifesaving work. Sally Proctor, our Social and Communications Manager said. “We’ve had such a positive response from our customers about the Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube. It’s a great design with a practical message, and it’s heartwarming to see how many people care about supporting our incredible mountain rescue teams. We’re really proud to contribute to their essential work.” The Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube features 'Mountain Rescue' Herdy, doing his bit to help keep the Lake District safe. Made from soft and comfy fabric, this versatile accessory is perfect for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you use it as a snood, headband, or bandana, it’s a fun and functional way to celebrate the outdoors. Better yet, with £1.50 from every Ewe Tube sold going directly to LDSAMRA, it’s a purchase that makes a difference. The Lake District is a place of breathtaking beauty, attracting millions of visitors every year. However, its rugged terrain can also present significant challenges, making the work of LDSAMRA’s volunteer teams essential. With no government funding, the organisation relies entirely on donations to continue its amazing work. We’re immensely proud of the Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube fundraiser and the money raised. Not only has it raised vital funds for these everyday heroes, but it has also helped shine a spotlight on the incredible work they do. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who purchased a Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube and joined us in supporting the fantastic teams at LDSAMRA.

At Herdy, we’ve always been passionate about supporting our community and making a positive impact where we can. We’re thrilled to share some baaa-rilliant news: thanks to your help, we’ve raised an incredible £6,477.50 for the Bay Hospitals Charity! This donation is the result of two years of fundraising through the sales of our limited edition NHS 75th Anniversary collection.   Celebrating 75 Years of the NHS In 2023, the National Health Service marked its 75th birthday, and we knew we wanted to celebrate this milestone in true Herdy style. The NHS has been a cornerstone of our nation’s well-being for decades, providing care and compassion to us all. What better way to say “thank ewe” to these everyday heroes than by teaming up with Bay Hospitals Charity to raise funds in their honour? To celebrate, we designed a special edition collection featuring an NHS mug, tea towel, and ‘Thank Ewe’ card. Each product was lovingly designed and produced here in the UK, with a portion of each sale going directly to the charity. In true Herdy fashion, we ‘herdified’ a small number of NHS occupations for our design. While we couldn’t represent all 350+ NHS careers, our collection was a heartfelt thank you to every single person who has made a difference over the past 75 years. From doctors and nurses to paramedics and porters, this collection celebrated the diverse roles that keep the NHS running. A Huge THANK EWE!  The funds raised will go towards purchasing equipment for the Bay Hospitals Charity, to help them to continue providing exceptional healthcare services. “We would like to thank Herdy for choosing Bay Hospitals Charity to receive a donation from the sale of the NHS 75th birthday commemorative Mug and Tea Towel. The money raised will be used to purchase equipment to enhance patient experience and care, providing further opportunities to offer specialised treatments closer to home. Thank you Herdy!” Suzanne Lofthouse, Head of Charity and Fundraising at Bay Hospitals Charity. None of this would have been possible without your support. Every purchase of the NHS mug, tea towel and card contributed to the total amount raised. Over the past two years, your generosity has helped us donate £6,477.50 to Bay Hospitals Charity. Thank Ewe Again To everyone who purchased one of our NHS 75th Anniversary products, we can’t thank ewe enough. Your support has been truly baaa-rilliant, and together we’ve made a real difference. Here’s to celebrating the NHS, its incredible staff, and the community that continues to rally behind them.

Here are a few of the things that made us smile in 2024 January We kicked off the year with a fun caption competition. With over 350 fantastic entries, one stood out as our absolute favourite. Congratulations to our winner, Jan Smallwood - thank ewe, Jan! We experienced our first Snow Day of the year, with the Lakes blanketed in a generous layer of snow. Our Grasmere store looked a picture-perfect winter wonderland. Over the years, we’ve received many photos of Herdy tattoos, but Michelle’s stands out. She wanted to capture her love for the Lake District and its famous fleecy resident. Michelle’s tattoo, showing true brand devotion, marked the 13th Herdy tattoo we’ve received! February We made quite an impression at this year’s Spring Fair trade show at the NEC in Birmingham! Herdy’s newest recruits, Henrietta and Heidi, along with their pram of lambs, spread Cumbrian charm throughout the trade show. We partnered with our friends at The Mardale Inn in Bampton to host a competition for a two-night stay, celebrating their newly renovated rooms featuring our Herdysleep mattresses – almost 500 entries were received! This Random Acts of Kindness day, team Herdy was thrilled to spread some cheer amongst the young patients at Westmorland General Hospital. Herdy designed and donated the two wall murals which were installed in the Children’s Urgent Treatment Centre. The ewe-nique murals were designed in collaboration staff at the hospital and featured Herdy's adventures in the Lake District! March We took part in a very Egg-cellent Easter Campaign! Herdy donned his apron and joined Booths for their big Easter weekend event. Across multiple Booths stores, Herdy hid Easter eggs up and down the aisles for people to find. Prizes were given to everyone who completed the Easter egg hunt and successfully spelt out the secret word. We launched Herdy Art - a range of fun and colourful art designed to bring Herdy’s smile to your home. This affordable collection made right here in the UK, marked an exciting new venture for Herdy! We celebrated the first Herdwick lambs of the year! Meet little Charlie and his proud first-time mum, Bea. Thank ewe to @holly.a.farmers.wife for this adorable picture. April We posted our annual April Fool's joke and this year and our cheeky post went down a storm! We surprised our followers with the ‘launch’ of a brand new limited edition product, Herdy Peep Underpants! Little did we know that Herdy pants would become such a huge hit! Our followers were deeply disappointed that they couldn't order the new limited edition range! Maybe a range for the future? Meet Frankie, whose love for climbing took him to extraordinary heights. Joined by his mum, a highly experienced mountain rescue volunteer, 8-year-old Frankie embarked on a challenging nine-day trek to Everest's base camp. Frankie took a little bit of home with him on his trip in the form of a Herdy Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube. We were thrilled to welcome a group of Herdy superfans to HQ for HerdyCon! Now in its third year, this special event gathers Herdy fans from around the world. It's a chance to showcase unique Herdy collections, spark new product ideas, and support local charities and, of course, say THANK EWE to our amazing community! May We were thrilled to share our exciting news! Herdy opened its fifth store in the beautiful Lake District, right in the heart of Ambleside. This vibrant town, rich in history and surrounded by stunning scenery, became home to our newest shop. On opening day, Ambleside buzzed with excitement as we warmly welcomed friends and fans to the new store. Special guests Henrietta and Heidi Herdwick made a special appearance, courtesy of the Bread & Butter Theatre Company. Team Herdy huffed and puffed their way around the Kendal ‘Colour Dash’ course in glorious sunshine, with the help of some little furry friends. We’re super proud to have supported this event again. The 2024 colour dash raised over £20,000 to support the incredible work done by the team at St John’s Hospice. We launched our new Herdy Lifestyle Mugs! Featuring Herdy and Sheppy on fun adventures - gardening, dancing, BBQing, and more. These British made mugs feature the strapline – do what makes ewe smile!   June In June, Herdy felt the love in our Kendal store as we celebrated Pride Month. This year, we were especially excited to support Kendal Pride with a fab-ewe-lous window display and sponsorship. Thank you for letting us be part of such a special event! We auctioned the Little Herdy and Sheppy soft toys who successfully completed the Kendal Colour Dash with us, complete with their exclusive Herdy medals. Over the past 2 years, the Colour Dash auction has raised £1423 for St John's Hospice. The top 6 bids this year raised an incredible £585. Thank ewe! Sheppy finally got his very own mug! What could be cuter than the paw-fectly lovable Sheppy to accompany your brew? Whether he's playing fetch, or taking a little tinkle, Sheppy’s sure to make ewe smile.   July We paid tribute to veteran fell runner Joss Naylor, who passed away aged 88. Joss was an amazing charity fundraiser for the local community here in the Lakes. He was appointed an MBE for services to sport and charity in 2007. Aged 50, the Cumbrian sheep farmer ran all 214 Wainwrights in 7 days. Aged 60 he ran 60 Lakeland fell tops in 36 hours and at 70, he ran 70 Lakeland fells. He was a true legend and an inspiration to us all. Herdy was back on the road for this year’s summer shows, bringing Herdy’s signature smile to the Great Yorkshire Show and the Royal Welsh Show. It was wonderful to spread some Herdy joy at these iconic events! We teamed up with the lovely folk at Beetham Nurseries to celebrate their 40th Anniversary with a Limited Edition Herdy Tea Towel. Just in time for their summer festival celebration. A special 'thank ewe' to the team at Beetham for celebrating their milestone birthday with Herdy.   August Herdy launched a brand-new range of drinking glasses. For Herdy, who we all know likes the odd tipple, it was a perfect addition to the range! To celebrate World Photography Day, we asked to see your BEST Herdwick or Sheepdog pictures. The winner of the competition was Kez Adams, with this adorable photo of Flossie. Congrat-ewe-lations, Kez! We received over 300 entries, all of which were superb - making us smile, laugh, and say aww! Choosing a winner was no easy task. A big thank ewe to everyone who entered! We were super excited to announce Herdy's arrival at Hayes Garden World. Hayes has been a part of the Lake District landscape for over 200 years and now includes the Lakes cutest sheep! September In September, we celebrated Herdy’s birthday, marking 17 years of spreading smiles and happiness! Since our launch in 2007, we’ve come a long way, and we want to thank all of ewe for making us smile. On Sunday 29th of September, Herdy had the pleasure of joining the annual Sheep Drive in London. A lively celebration of British Wool and the ancient tradition of driving sheep across London Bridge. For Herdy, this year’s event was extra special as Store Manager Emma was granted the privilege of driving a flock of sheep across Southwark Bridge. This honour is usually reserved exclusively for Freemen or liverymen of the City of London, making Emma’s participation a rare and special moment. Join us in congrat-ewe-lating Patrick Fitzwilliam and his World Champion Herdwick Sheep! Herdy was very proud to have sponsored this year's award at the Eskdale show, shining a light on the very best of the Herdwick breed. October Herdy magnets finally arrived in October! Woop Woop! Adding a pop of colour and a dash of fun to your fridge. This has probably been our most requested item. It took us a while but we finally delivered! We got into the Halloween spirit with Herdy’s spooktac-ewe-lar Chocolate Mummy Cookies! These chocolatey treats weren’t just delicious—they were a baa-rilliant twist on traditional Halloween cookies. With Herdy Cookie Cutter in hand, it was time to make some sheepishly spooky snacks that left everyone flocking for more. We were feeling festive at Herdy HQ in October and bursting with Christmas spirit after launching our Christmas Collection. With mugs, tea towels, stockings, advent calendars, and more, the range had everything needed to fill your home with smiles this holiday season.   November In November, we took the time to mark Remembrance Day. Thank ewe to farmer Holly who sent in this beautiful picture of Hunca the Herdwick who we shared with our followers to mark the day. We launched our new range of Christmas Freebies, including Herdy and Sheppy enjoying a day at the Christmas Market! Our latest printable freebies are super easy and great fun to make. Keeping little hands (and big ones) busy in the run-up to Christmas. On the 29th December we celebrated a very special Birthday as Sheppy turned 1. We had loads of well wishes sent through on Sheppy’s big day, thank ewe to everyone who celebrated with us. December Our Christmas windows were installed early December to spread festive cheer throughout the lakes! Our 5 Lake District stores were chock full of Christmas goodies and we even entered our Ambleside display into the town’s Christmas Window Competition! Little Herdy sent us some selfies from the latest Graduation ceremony at Cumbria University. Congrat-ewe-lations to all the students, you’re all baa-rilliant! We were saddened to hear about the 'The World's Smallest Flock Sheep Sanctuary' — a loving home for rescued and disabled sheep who lost their shelter during Storm Bert. They care for their flock with so much heart, and we knew Herdy would want to lend a helping hoof. We, along with a number of Herdy fans and lots of other lovely people, came together and contributed to the fundraiser to help rebuild the shelter and provide some tasty treats for the flock of very special sheep. This is a picture of Moo, the flocks only resident Herdwick sheep.   Thank ewe for giving us such joy in 2024. We wish ewe a happy, healthy and fun-filled New Year. Here’s to 2025!

We are thrilled to share some fantastic news with you: Herdy has just opened its fifth store in the beautiful Lake District, right in the heart of Ambleside. This vibrant town, steeped in history and surrounded by stunning scenery, now hosts our newest shop, reinforcing our deep connection to our roots. Celebrating Our Grand Opening with a Ewe-nique Twist To mark this special occasion, we wanted to do something truly memorable. On the opening day, Ambleside was abuzz with excitement as we welcomed our friends and fans to the new store. But the highlight of the event was undoubtedly the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which featured Heidi and Henrietta (and their pram full of lambs) – these hilarious Herdwicks were brought to life by the very talented Bread and Butter Theater Company. These charming characters added a touch of magic to the day and perfectly captured the spirit of Herdy. Why Ambleside? Ambleside is a town that holds a special place in our hearts. Nestled in the picturesque Lake District, it’s a hub for visitors exploring the natural beauty of the lakes and boasts a rich heritage. This makes it the perfect location for our newest store. As Diane Hannah, our co-founder, beautifully put it, "Ambleside has always been a special place for us. It's a town that embodies the spirit of the Lake District with its stunning scenery, rich history, and welcoming community. Opening our fifth store here feels like a natural next step for Herdy." Introducing Herdysleep One of the standout features of our Ambleside store is the dedicated 'Herdysleep' area. This is a first for us and something we’re incredibly excited about. Herdysleep offers a range of mattresses and bedding made right here in Britain from locally sourced Herdwick wool. Combining traditional materials with modern comfort, Herdysleep supports local farmers and promotes sustainable, ethical products. Diane explains, "The inclusion of Herdysleep in our new store allows us to highlight the versatility and quality of Herdwick wool. It's a natural, sustainable material that offers excellent comfort and durability, making it the perfect material for our award-winning mattresses. We’re excited to share this with our customers and provide them with products that they can feel good about." A Testament to Our Loyal Comm-ewe-nity In a retail environment where many businesses are facing tough challenges, Herdy’s continued growth is a testament to our loyal customer base and our commitment to quality. The opening of the Ambleside store is a significant milestone for us. We believe this new store will become a favourite destination for both locals and tourists, offering a unique shopping experience that celebrates the heritage and charm of this incredible county and its cute and loveable Herdwick sheep. Thank Ewe for Being Part of Our Journey We couldn’t have achieved this without you – our wonderful Herdy community. Your support and love for our brand have helped us grow and thrive. As we celebrate this exciting new chapter in Ambleside, we look forward to continuing this journey together, bringing you more of the products you love and supporting the local communities and landscapes that inspire us. So, whether you’re a local or planning your next trip to the Lake District, come and visit us in Ambleside. We can't wait to welcome ewe!

Herdy Donates Wall Murals To Children's Urgent Treatment Centre At Westmorland General Hospital To celebrate this year’s Random acts of kindness, we have lovingly designed and sponsored the installation of two fun and colourful murals at the Urgent Treatment Centre at the Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal. In collaboration with the hospital, we created the designs specially for the children's waiting area and treatment room, aiming to provide a ewe-nique source of distraction and entertainment for young patients during their visit to the hospital.  When the Westmorland General approached us with the idea of designing the murals, we jumped at the opportunity. "Herdy’s motto is to make ewe smile, and if we can help children smile when they come into the hospital, nothing would make us happier," said Diane Hannah, Co-founder of Herdy. Recognising the anxiety often associated with hospital visits, especially for children, we’ve created a positive, fun and relaxed environment through the joyful designs. The mural in the children’s waiting area depicts Herdy embarking on adventures throughout the picturesque landscapes of the Lake District. From fishing to paragliding and playing fetch with Sheppy the sheepdog, Herdy's escapades capture the essence of outdoor fun and exploration. The artwork also pays tribute to the real-life heroes of the Westmorland General, and features paramedics, doctors, nurses, and emergency responders.   The children’s treatment room mural depicts a Herdy nurse greeting young patients with a comforting smile, while the view through an ‘open’ window reveals Herdy's ongoing adventures in the lakes. The Herdy murals have been installed to coincide with Random Acts of Kindness Day on the 17th of February, an annual initiative encouraging people to focus on kindness and how they can spread RAKs within their community. This follows on from Herdy’s special edition NHS mug and tea towel, launched last year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the NHS. So far, sales of these ewe-nique Herdy products have raised over £3500 for the NHS Bay Hospitals Charity.  We had great fun creating the design and collaborating with the hospital team, in particular Freyja Burrill, who works at the unit. Freyja had sketched some initial designs for our first meeting and had some great ideas around all the fun and games Herdy could be getting up to. On seeing the murals installed, Freyja said “They are so beautiful. Thanks to Herdy for the design and sponsoring all of this, it’s had such a lovely and positive impact on all of our staff and patients already, and given the department a facelift and morale boost too.”  The unveiling of Herdy's latest creations is part of the hospital's ongoing efforts to create a welcoming and uplifting environment for patients of all ages.

Meet Frankie McMillan. An eight-year-old whose love for climbing has taken him to extraordinary heights. From scaling all 214 Wainwrights in the Lakes, to becoming the youngest Briton to conquer Mount Olympus in Greece. Frankie's journey is one of determination and a love for the great outdoors. Now, with his sights set on Mount Everest, Frankie's latest adventure showcases not only his ambition but also his commitment to giving back.   Accompanied by his mum, Basia, a highly experienced climber, mountain leader, and mountain rescue volunteer, Frankie embarked on a challenging nine-day trek to Everest's base camp. Their journey tested their physical and emotional resilience. Climbing through glaciers and past lakes, among the world’s highest peaks. For Basia, watching Frankie touch the base camp rock was a moment of pure pride. As she shared, "It was such a rewarding experience. Frankie was very proud of himself, but I was even more proud." Frankie added “Climbing Everest is my biggest dream, and the whole of the wall next to my bed is a picture of it. But my Mum says I’m too small to go to the very top, so Base Camp will have to do for now.” Because he is making his wish come true, Frankie wants to help other children make their wishes come true too. He is raising money for Make-A-Wish. A foundation that brings moments of joy and precious memories to children whose lives are limited or even threatened by serious illness. He plans to raise £5,364 – a pound for every metre of height to reach Base Camp. Frankie also took a little bit of home with him on his voyage to base camp, in the form of a Herdy Ewe Tube. Showing his support for Lake District Mountain Rescue. Basia, Frankie's mum, is not only his climbing partner but also a member of Wasdale Mountain Rescue. Her expertise and dedication to helping others in the mountains has shaped Frankie's approach to adventure. Growing up surrounded by the landscapes of the Lake District, Frankie has developed a deep respect for nature and a love for the outdoors. From an early age, he was drawn to the challenge of climbing mountains, including scaling Scafell Pike, Britain’s highest mountain, aged just four.   The Herdy Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube is a practical accessory for anyone venturing out into the mountains. It's also a fun way to show support for the amazing volunteers who make it possible for us to enjoy the outdoors safely. Every purchase makes a difference as £1.50 from the sale of every Ewe Tube is donated to Lake District Mountain Rescue. By choosing to support the mountain rescue teams in this way, you are showing appreciation for the work that they do and are helping to ensure that they can continue providing their vital service for years to come.  To date, you have helped Herdy raise over £3100 for Lake District Mountain Rescue.

Here are a few of the things that made us smile in 2023. January Herdy’s colour palette was ahead of the trend with Pantone’s colour of the year ‘Viva Magenta’ – a ‘full on pink’ celebration embraced by this summer’s Barbie fever! We waved our Union Jacks patriotically with the launch of Herdy’s limited edition Coronation collection, ready for the crowning of our new King and Queen. Burns night looked a bit different this year when we asked ewe to Herdify your haggis’ – we had lots of fun looking at your efforts! February We felt all loved up as we celebrated Valentine's Day with a poetry competition. The winning poem was penned by the very talented Jane Blunt. 3 Dads Walking reached an incredible milestone of raising 1 million pounds for suicide prevention charities. To help get them over the finish line, we Herdified Andy, Tim and Mike, an honour reserved for only the very few. We asked you to fill our social media feeds with your furry friends on #LoveYourPetDay and you didn't disappoint! We had hundreds of pictures sent in and it was great to see so many, cute and well loved pets. March We announced our support for St Johns Hospice Colour Dash! This year, we also sponsored the event and designed some fab-ewe-lous medals, which were given to all who took part. This year's World Poetry Day Competition did not disappoint! We had loads of amazing entries sent to us. Our favourite, by Kristyn Harris, brought lots of smiles to Herdy HQ. After the successful launch of Herdy’s soft and cuddly throws, we added some band new designs to the range. Who can resist Herdy’s cute and colourful smile! April Herdy’s ‘Hollywood’ sign April Fool went viral reaching over 165,000 people. Did we have ewe fooled? We celebrated the first Herdwick lambs of the year with an adorable picture of little Cucumber. A face to melt even the coldest heart! The team from Herdy HQ huffed and puffed their way around the Kendal Colour Dash course and raised over £2300 for St John's Hospice. May Along with the rest of the UK, we put up our bunting and waved our Union Jacks as we celebrated the Coronation of King Charles and The Queen Consort. We put on our dancing shoes and sang-a-long to this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool (or should that be Ewe-rovision). We teamed up with Lake District Mountain Rescue to launch a brand new ‘Mountain Rescue’ Ewe Tube, raising funds to support the teams in carrying out their vital rescue work in the Lake District mountains. June A new addition to the Herdy kitchen range was launched in June. We teamed up with the fine artisans at Croglin of Penrith to create a ewe-nique chopping board, designed and produced in Cumbria. To celebrate 75 years of the National Health Service, we launch a range of fundraising products in partnership with The Bay Hospitals Charity to raise money for our local NHS trust. Elton Herdy embraced his inner glam rock star and set the stage alight at this year's Glastonbaa-ry! July We teamed up with the amazing people at Hug Rug to bring a Herdy welcome to your home with the launch of 5 new Herdy Hug Rugs. We said a big THANK EWE to all the amazing staff at Westmorland General Hospital for inviting Herdy to take part in the 75-year celebration. At the Royal Welsh Show we met Nicky, a Herdwick enthusiast and one of Herdy’s biggest fans, and she had the tattoo to prove it. August Three remarkable women, wearing matching Herdy T-shirts, took on the Dales Way walk. Helen, who initially planned the walk for her 50th birthday, was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer and the walk was postponed. As a Christmas gift, she inspired her friends with Herdy t-shirts and, exactly one year after her chemotherapy ended, they triumphantly finished the 80-mile journey. We sent a powerful ROAR of support to the incredible lionesses as they kicked off at the Women’s FIFA World Cup. In August, we met Marie, a Pediatric Nurse from Lincolnshire. Since Covid, she'd been wearing child-friendly scrubs that brought smiles to her little patient’s faces. Marie requested some Herdy fabric to craft some ewe-nique scrubs. Now, every day is a game of sheep-spotting for the little warriors under Marie's care. September We couldn’t baa-lieve it when Little Herdy popped up on The Great British Bake Off! Fellow Cumbrian Abbi, used Little Herdy as the inspiration for her spectacular Herdwick cake showstopper. On the 13th of September Herdy celebrated its sweet sixteenth birthday! We received hundreds of messages from ewe which made Herdy’s birthday, even more special. Herdy hit London town and took part in the annual Sheep Drive across London Bridge, celebrating everything woolly and championing the Herdwick sheep. October #JusticeForLittleHerdy was sweeping across social media as we waited for Little Herdy to be released from his captures (also known as HMRC). Luckily, Little Herdy passed all his health checks and made his way safely to Herdy HQ. We were proud to sponsor this year’s World Champion Herdwick Sheep Award at the Eskdale show, which was won by David Harrison of Brotherilkeld Farm. Congrat-ewe-lations David, a well deserved winner. To celebrate National Poetry Day, we asked you to pen a poem inspired by The Lake District. The winning poem was sent in by the very talented Joanne Graham. November Together with our friends at Hug Rug, we brought ‘Seasons Bleatings’ to people’s homes, in the form of a fab-ewe-lously festive Herdy Christmas Hug Rug. Herdy took his festive charm to the Welsh valleys and exhibited at the Royal Welsh winter fair. Gio and Lisa did a baa-rilliant job and even brought home an award for best Christmas gift stand. We welcomed a new member to the flock this year. Little Sheppy was looking for his forever home and hundreds of you took him in. We can’t wait to see all the adventures he gets up to. December We gave away lots of new Christmas freebies for you to get creative with over the festive period, including name cards, countdown calendars and even bingo cards. Which freebie was your favourite? You all went barmy for Sheppy. We hope he’s settling in to his forever home! The team at Herdy HQ let their hair down at the annual Christmas do! After a very busy year, the team enjoyed a beverage (or two, or three…….). Thank ewe for giving us such joy in 2023. We wish ewe a happy, healthy and fun-filled New Year. Here’s to 2024!

Back in 2007, when Herdy was born, we launched the Herdyfund, pledging to donate a percentage of our yearly profits to help support local community projects. For 16 years, the Herdy Fund has been involved in some incredible initiatives, donating over £250k, to support youth and adult education, young farmers, rural community initiatives and projects to protect the region’s Herdwick Sheep. This year, we've been as busy as ever with our fundraising efforts, including celebrating the 75th anniversary of our beloved NHS, sponsoring events for our local hospice, and gathering funds for the Lake District Mountain Rescue, and more. Here's a quick roundup of the projects the Herdy Fund supported this year.   Charity Fundraisers Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube  Herdy teamed up with the amazing people at Lake District Mountain Rescue to create a special 'Mountain Rescue Ewe Tube’, with part revenue from sales going to support our local volunteer teams. The ewe-nique design featured Mountain Rescue Herdy and Sheppy, keeping a watchful eye on the Lake District fells.  The Ewe Tube isn't just handy for mountain adventures, it's also a great way to give back to the hardworking volunteers who ensure our safety. A donation of £1.50 from each sale goes to support Lake District Mountain Rescue. Plus, it also helps highlight the AdventureSmart campaign, which gives essential tips for staying safe in the fells. The LDSAMRA oversees 12 teams with over 400 volunteers, offering crucial aid to those in need, day or night. Their dedication and bravery are simply outstanding, saving numerous lives and serving our community in inspiring ways. To date, we have raised over £2100 for Lake District Mountain Rescue NHS Collection  As proud supporters of the National Health Service, Herdy couldn't have been more thrilled to join in the 75th anniversary celebrations. To mark this momentous occasion we launched a number of special edition collectables, including a fine bone china mug and collectors tea towel, to raise funds for our baaa-rilliant NHS.  Partnering with The Bay Hospitals Charity, every purchase from this collection has helped raise vital funds for the Charity, ensuring our healthcare heroes get the support they deserve. It's our way of saying "thank ewe" to those who dedicate their lives to our well-being. To date, we have raised over £6000 for The Bay Hospitals Charity. St Johns Hospice  Our Herdy HQ team hit the Kendal Colour Dash course again this year, all in support of St John's Hospice.  This time, Herdy also sponsored the event and we even designed some fab-ewe-lous medals for all the participants. Plus, we raised an extra £850 through the ‘Little Herd’ online auction, where 10 Little Herdy soft toys, who accompanied us around the 5K course, were auctioned off to the highest bidder. We successfully raised over £2300 for St Johns Hospice Charitable Donations Newton Rigg Collage This year, we supported Bright Stars, an initiative collaborating with 150 primary schools in Cumbria, to teach entrepreneurship skills. Herdy helped turn classroom learning into a real-life experience. The program encouraged pupils to work with local businesses to create social enterprise ventures. The competition gave £50 seed funding to each school, challenging them to build their mini-businesses in 12 weeks and grow the investment creatively. This year, the goal was to turn a profit while making a positive impact. Over 1200 primary school children actively took part in Bright Stars during the spring term. We have donated a total of £9000 to Newton Rigg Bright Stars This year, we partnered with Bright Stars, an initiative collaborating with 150 primary schools in Cumbria, Herdy helped turn classroom learning into a real-life experience. The program encouraged school kids to work with local businesses and create social enterprise ventures. The competition gave £50 seed funding to each school, challenging them to build their mini-businesses in 12 weeks and grow the investment creatively. This year, the goal was to turn a profit while making a positive impact. Over 1200 primary school children actively took part in Bright Stars during the spring term. We donated a total of £1000 to Bright Stars Waste into Wellbeing Waste to Wellbeing is a volunteer led, social project at the heart of Kendal’s Food Community. Food from local supermarkets, shops and restaurants, which would otherwise be wasted, is turned into nourishing meals, provided on a pay what you can basis, or is re-distributed to residents in need through a community larder. Herdy's donation went towards refurbishing the community kitchen that Waste to Wellbeing makes the meals it provides. We donated a total of £1000 to Waste into Wellbeing Grasmere Brass Summer School Herdy is delighted to have supported the Grasmere Brass Summer School for the second year in a row. Not only did we sponsor the event, we also donated some custom Herdy SIGG water bottles for everyone taking part. The Summer School brings young brass learners together for two days of music and fun, helping them play better in groups and gain experience from more accomplished players. It's all about boosting the confidence of younger players and encouraging newcomers to give music a try. We donated a total of £350 to Grasmere Brass Summer School We also contributed to… Age UK West Cumbria: £825 Alston Community Workshop: £2000 Westmorland Agricultural Society: £1000 Settlebeck School: £350 In total Herdy has donated over £23,000 to local charities this year, an incredible figure, made possible by the support of our fantastic customers. We’re looking forward to making more of a difference the Herdy Fund will be a part of next yeaar.

It's time to give your doorstep the upgrade it deserves! With Herdy and Hug Rug, you can greet your guests with a welcoming smile in the knowledge that you're making a positive impact on the environment. Herdy and Hug Rug have come together to create a collection that’s made to make ewe smile. We've combined our shared values of quality and sustainability to create something truly ewe-nique. Imagine a barrier mat that's not only kind to your floors but also kind to the environment. Our new Herdy Hug Rugs are lovingly made just across the border in West Yorkshire, using recycled materials in line with our commitment to making a positive environmental impact. Say goodbye to dirt and ‘Hello’ to Herdy's cheeky charm Prepare to be welcomed home by Herdy’s famous smile! These welcome mats don't just keep dirt at bay; they bring a splash of personality to your home. With their ability to trap up to 95% of dust and dirt, they absorb three times their weight in water, Hug Rug have created a homeowner's dream. Mud-caked shoes and dirty hooves are no match for the Hug Rug. Trust us, your guests won't be able to resist smiling back! Reducing waste, one doormat at a time Herdy and Hug Rug’s dedication to the environment knows no bounds. We share the same commitment to sourcing sustainable materials and using materials that would otherwise be destined for landfill, transforming them into practical and lovable products. Added to that, each Hug Rug is manufactured using green energy sources, so every time you step on a Herdy Hug Rug, you're not just keeping your floors clean, you're helping the planet breathe a little easier too! An award-winning eco-friendly choice Since its launch in 2008, Hug Rug's cotton barrier mats have been sweeping awards and capturing the hearts of environmentally conscious homeowners. The secret to their success? The perfect combination of sustainability and functionality. Hug Rug has cracked the code, creating a product that not only aligns with sustainable values but also delivers exceptional performance. It's a win-win for you and the planet! Taking sustainability further Hug At Home have committed to eliminating harmful waste, and as part of that have invested in technology that allows them to add renewable rubber and post industrial plastics into the rubber backing of their Hug Rugs - saving over 100 tonnes of plastic per year going to landfill. They are justifiably proud that their textile mills in Yorkshire are also ZERO waste to landfill. Read more about Hug Rug’s environmental story; Click Here

Herdy Celebrates the NHS's 75th Anniversary Can ewe believe it? Our beloved NHS is turning 75 this year! As a proud supporter of the National Health Service, Herdy couldn't be more thrilled to join in the celebrations with the launch of a number of special edition collectables, all raising money for the baaa-rilliant NHS. In the midst of celebrating the NHS's remarkable 75-year journey, it's important to acknowledge just how precious this institution is to everybody in the UK. Whether you're a healthcare worker, a patient, or the loved one of someone in their care, we all have a connection to the NHS. It's the comforting hand on your shoulder when you're feeling scared, the gentle voice that reassures you everything will be alright, and the unwavering support that carries you through the toughest of times. From the miracle of childbirth to the compassionate care provided during illness, the NHS touches our lives in countless ways. A Brief History Back in 1948, when teenage fashion meant poodle skirts and bobby socks, a revolution of a different kind was taking place, the birth of the NHS. In a world where healthcare was a luxury only a few could afford, our forward-thinking government believed that healthcare should be accessible to all, regardless of social standing or the depth of your pocket. As a result, the NHS was born, ensuring that every British citizen could receive medical care and treatment, free at the point of service. A game-changer. Now, as we fast forward to the present, the NHS faces a whole new set of challenges. The demands on our healthcare system are greater than ever, and that's where we can make a difference. Supporting NHS Charities is a fantastic way to lend a helping hand and show appreciation for the tireless efforts of healthcare workers. Photo Credit: Nicolas J Leclercq To celebrate this incredible milestone, Herdy is teaming up with The Bay Hospitals Charity, registered no.1048685, to help make a positive impact. Herdy has created a brand new collection that includes the special edition NHS mug, tea towel, and ‘Thank Ewe’ card. Every purchase from this collection helps raise funds for this NHS Charity, ensuring that our healthcare heroes receive the support they need. It's our way of saying "thank ewe" to those who dedicate their lives to our well-being. As we raise a collective cheer to the NHS's 75th anniversary, let's celebrate the incredible impact it’s had on each and every one of us. Here's to 75 years of care, compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication! Who’s Who In The HHS Crew! To the kind folks at the NHS; we have lovingly ‘herdified’ a small number of NHS occ-ewe-pations for our special edition collection. There are over 350 different NHS careers and, whilst we can’t represent every single role we can thank every single one of ewe for making a difference over the last 75 years. THANK EWE!  Therapist Surgeon Nurse Paramedic Intensive Care Doctor Midwife Paramedic Physio Sister Porter X-Ray Patient Poorly Leg Poorly Eye Poorly Head Cheeky Peep    

For those of you who have been following Anti Racist Cumbria, you’ll no doubt have heard all about the incredibly exciting animated film, The Fell We Climb. But did you know that Herdy has proudly played a part in helping bring the film to life?  We can’t wait to share this b-ewe-tifl and powerful film with you all, but until then, here’s a recap of how The Fell We Climb came to be… The Fell We Climb is a short thought-provoking animated film that has been co-created with  Plus3k Studios and Anti Racist Cumbria’s grassroots youth group: Animated Futures.   This team of inspirational young people was brought together in 2020 and the project began life as a space for young Black and Brown children to connect about what it means to grow up in Cumbria if you aren’t white. For many of these children, it was the first time they had even met another young person who looked like them. ARC (Anti Racist Cumbria) quickly realised how passionate the kids were about an anti-racist future with their clear vision for change, and the project organically grew to become as epic as they are.   Plus3k came on board to begin to teach the children about animation as an outlet for exploring culture and identity. Following an epic crowdfunding campaign the film has been finished to industry standards and following over 50 screenings across Cumbria it is now due to hit the film festival circuit.  The Fell We Climb is based on the real-life experiences of these brilliant young people. We believe that it will inspire future generations to also become anti-racist. Later this year the film will be offered to every school in Cumbria along with age-appropriate lesson plans. None of this would have been possible without the amazing support of crowdfunding sponsors, and this included a generous contribution from Cumbria's most famous sheep, Herdy!  ARC CEO Janett Walker caught up with Herdy co-founder, Spencer Hannah, to talk all about the project and why Herdy is one of ARC’s longest-standing supporters. Q&A with Spencer Herdy Co-Founder  Hello Spencer! Firstly, thank you so much for supporting The Fell We Climb. What attracted you to this project? Herdy agrees wholeheartedly with the cause, but mostly, it was the story itself: the narrative. It holds up a mirror and encourages us to question our actions and inactions. Ultimately it’s about recognising things that need to change and doing something about it, being brave and doing the right thing.   You’ve seen the film a couple of times now, can you describe how you feel when you reach the end of the story? Hopeful and proud to have supported and helped. It’s an important thing. Herdy is well known for its proudly Cumbrian roots. Why do you think that anti-racism is so critical both to Cumbria and to you / your team at Herdy?  Why wouldn’t it be? I’ve said this at other events and talks. For Herdy, Cumbria is an ‘incubation zone’ for clear thinking, a fresh approach and new ideas being born and nurtured. From here those ideas can get out - beyond Cumbria and into the world.  The story centres on a young Black girl finding her voice but also on white people recognising the need to be better allies - what does anti-racist allyship mean to you personally? As a business? The ultimate hope is that projects like this become irrelevant because there should be no need for society and communities to address racism, but until then, we have to, so these kinds of projects are needed. Anti Racist Cumbria is on a journey. Herdy, as a business; has a purpose and beliefs. They include Inclusivity and Responsibility and this film is one of the ways we commit to those.   Your business is a local success story. What’s the one key piece of advice you would give to our young people…and our not so young people? Be brave. Step up. Keep pushing through and consider your impact as you do so. Doing the right thing is more important than saying the right thing. Q&A with Janett Anti Racist Cumbria CEO and Co-Founder What feelings and emotions do you have now about the project and ARC - now that you have got this far? Our charity ARC has gone from strength to strength, it feels as though all roads have led me to this and though the road ahead is long it is beginning to feel like there’s a real appetite for an anti-racist county. This project makes me proud but in a way also nervous. It started as a small grassroots project for young people to explore through animation what it means to grow up in Cumbria if you aren’t white and it's taken on a whole life of its own and going out into the world. How the world will respond is beyond my control and that’s quite a nerve-wracking thing  Do you feel and see change happening faster, better, bigger? This wave of change feels seismic, I think in part down to social media and the speed of communication. Ideas are shared so much quicker these days.  How far out of Cumbria do you believe you can take your message? Regional, National, International? Our focus is obviously Cumbria, this is our home and where we want to make the most impact but the lessons we’ve learned and our message is reaching beyond the county. The film is already picking up awards at international film festivals and that reach will not just be amazing for spreading the message of anti-racism but also putting Cumbrian creativity on the map.   What are your personal hopes and dreams for the future? That’s easy, for my two children not to face the same barriers and stereotypes that I did. All this work is the start of change for the next generation and beyond. The Fell We Climb will hopefully be available for public release towards the end of the year, once the film has done the rounds at this year’s film festivals. Herdy is immensely proud to be a part of this very special project and we can’t wait to share this incredible film with you all. - Watch the trailer

To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla The Queen Consort, Herdy has created two very special limited edition mugs and collector’s tea towel, to commemorate this historic event. The King’s Outfit - A Closer Look His Majesty the King’s striking outfit is based on the Admiral of the Fleet naval uniform, which he wears for official engagements including the state opening of parliament. The uniform is worn only by a handful of senior naval officers, which includes high-ranking members of the Royal household. The uniform consists of a navy blue double-breasted tailcoat with gold buttons and shoulder boards, plus gold-laced navy trousers. The outfit is accessorised with an emerald green sash, The Order of the Thistle, Order of the Bath and The King’s personal collection of medals The Order of the Bath - The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was founded by King George I. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The Order of the Thistle - The Order of the Thistle is the highest order of chivalry in Scotland, recognising Knights who have held public office or have contributed in a particular way to national life. The emblem is traditionally worn on an emerald green sash. This particular colour has also previously been worn by The Queen during the Trooping of the Colour Service Medals - The King’s current collection of medals includes the late Queen’s Coronation, Silver Jubilee, Golden Jubilee, Diamond Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee Medals. Plus, a Naval Long Service Good Conduct Medal. The King notably had a six-year military career, mainly flying for the Royal Navy, for which he was awarded a number of service medals Member states of the commonwealth are also reflected, such as the Canadian Forces Decoration, the New Zealand Commemorative Medal and Armed Forces Award. The Queen Consort’s Outfit - A Closer Look The Queen Consort is depicted wearing a floor-length silk white gown which she has worn on many official state occasions, such as the state opening of parliament, evening receptions at Buckingham palace and foreign heads of state visits. The Queen Consort is not known for her extensive array of jewellery. However, she has a carefully curated collection of personal favourites that she wears on grand occasions, such as the Greville Tiara and Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II broach. Necklace -The Queen Consort is often seen wearing a striking pearl necklace with a diamond clasp, for formal events such as state dinners, Trooping of the Colour, and at the service of thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth II. The necklace features four strands of cultured pearls linked by a round cluster of round Edwardian cut diamonds, with a combined weight of three carats. Its estimated value is said to be over £55,000. The Greville Tiara - The Queen Consort is shown wearing the Greville Tiara, one of her personal favourites. The tiara, previously part of The Queen Mother's jewellery collection and was loaned by the Queen to Camilla on her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005. It has since become her signature tiaraThe piece was made in 1921 by Lucien Hirtx, the chief designer for Boucheron in Paris for Dame Margaret Greville. The tiara has gone through many transformations in its lifetime, with more diamonds being added. However, its distinctive honeycomb design has always been a striking feature and makes the piece unique among the Royals' extensive collection. It is estimated to be worth upwards of £10million Blue Sash - Certain members of the royal family will wear a blue sash to symbolise their role as a member of the Order of the Garter. A blue sash is also a symbol of the Royal family’s loyalty to the Crown. The colour blue has been associated with royalty for centuries and is seen as a colour of strength, stability, and unity. Broach - The Queen Consort is also shown wearing the Royal family order of Queen Elizabeth II bestowed on female members of the Royal family, a miniature portrait of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by diamonds and pinned on a silk taffeta bow. This is one of Camilla’s favourite accessories and she can be seen wearing it at a number of state occasions.

Here are a few of the things that made us smile in 2022 January Our friends over at Pantone released their colour of the year ‘Very Peri’ which was a perfect match for Herdy Purple. The very talented Eithne Mckinnelle created this fab-ewe-lous backpack using recycled Herdy fabric. Wool done Eithne! You sent us some b-ewe-tiful images of Herdwick sheep enjoying the winter months on the Cumbrian Fells. February We went viral on social media with an image of the Cumbrian bobsleigh team, preparing for the Winter Olympics. The post was seen by over a quarter of a million people and was liked over 21,000 times. We teamed up with the Gateway Church in Kendal to deliver 400 Hug in a Mug to those in the local community affected by loneliness. We celebrated Valentine’s day with a social media poetry competition. The winning entry was penned by Ladylittler on Instagram. March Team Herdy sent donations to the people of Ukraine who had been displaced due to the war. We also created a free downloadable poster to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the UK, which was downloaded over 1000 times. We went viral (again) with a gorgeous video of a little boy named Carrick, who was reunited with his lost Herdy comforter at Heathrow airport. The video reached over 4 million people and hopefully warmed a few hearts along the way. We launched our first Limited Edition Queen Mug, celebrating Her Majesty’s 70 glorious years on the throne. The design showed Her Majesty in a royal blue outfit, complete with black leather shoes and her iconic Launer handbag. April We received a letter from Her Majesty The Queen! Thanking team Herdy for sending her one of our Limited Edition Platinum Jubilee Mugs. You're very woolcome ma'am. Herdy co-founders Spencer and Diane Hannah were inducted into the Worshipful Company of Woolman and admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of their work championing the Herdwick Sheep. Don't they scrub up well. Team Herdy took part in the Kendal colour dash and raised over £2300 for St John's Hospice. This total included the amount raised by auctioning off 5 Little Herdys who also took part in the race. Herdy had a starring role on BBC Breakfast, as Spencer was interviewed about all things woolly. May We sponsored Maria Manning who successfully completed 10 marathons in 10 days, all in aid of raising money for The Brathay Trust. Congrat-ewe-lations on your amazing achievement Maria! Due to overwhelming demand, we launched a new Limited Edition Queen Mug, this time featuring one of The Queen's loyal Corgis. We also teamed up with ‘The Cocktail Man’ who created two ewe-nique Herdy Queen themed cocktails to help us all celebrate the Platinum Jubilee over the Bank Holiday weekend. We had a fantastic night at the North West Family Business Awards in Liverpool, as we took home the prize for Best Social Impact. Go team Herdy! June Along with the rest of the UK, Herdy celebrated The Queens Platinum Jubillee! We decorated our Lake District stores and created a free downloadable Herdy Queen bunting to help everyone celebrate in style. We asked ‘which Herdwick are ewe today?’ on social media. It turns out most of you were a number 4! A Herdy campervan was spotted at the Glastonberry festival, possibly hoping to see S-ewe-per Tramp or Baaa-nanarama. July Herdy was out on’t road at the Great Yorkshire Show. Delivering some Cumbrian charm to our friends over the boarder. We launched our brand new range of 100% organic cotton scarves. Lightweight, stylish and covered in Herdy's, what's not to love. Due to phenomenal demand, we released a THIRD Herdy Queen Mug, which portrayed Her Majesty The Queen in all her Coronation finery, including sceptre, orb and crown. August We received a b-ewe-tiful letter from a young Herdy fan named Martha, who had a fantastic idea for a new Herdy product. Our designer Kate helped bring Martha's vision to life. We began Good News Friday. Sharing positive news stories from around the world to help brighten your day. After 3 glorious years, we said a fond farewell to Sara, Martyn and Herdy Campervans. We hope ewe enjoy your retirement. September We were deeply saddened by the loss of Her Majesty The Queen. We closed our stores and silenced our communications as a mark of respect during the country’s official 10 days of mourning. Herdy hit London town and took part in the annual Sheep Drive across London Bridge, celebrating everything woolly and championing the Herdwick sheep. Herdy proudly sponsored the World Champion Herdwick Sheep award at the Eskdale show, which was won by a local ewe from the Eskdale fells. October We launched our brand new range of recycled cotton and wool throws, featuring three ewe-nique designs, each as cosy as the next. We welcomed Herdy superfans ‘The Herdsters’ to Herdy HQ for the first time. 40 Herdy super fans, plus over 200 Little Herdys descended on the office for a morning of cake and madness. We celebrated national poetry week with a social media competition, which was won by the very talented Flash Taylor. November We launched our eagerly anticipated new range of 100% organic cotton pyjamas and super cosy oversized fleece hoodies. We hope they keep ewe all warm this winter. Herdy threw his hat in the ring for the battle to become the new Prime Minister. Unfortunately, Herdy had to pull out of the race as Larry the cat proclaimed he was the only fluffy friend allowed at Number 10. The amazing Jenni Van De Kamp shared an image of her incredible personalised Herdyfied prosthetic leg. December Christmas was in full swing as we rolled out our Herdy Nativity Freebie. You all got super crafty in the lead-up to the big day and we loved seeing your festive creations. We launched our brand-new range of Herdy hats, the perfect accessory for those chilly winter months. Ewe sent us pictures of your crafty Christmas creations! Such as this baaa-rilliant Christmas Wreath, which went down a storm on social media. It was sent in by the very talented Diane Dawson. Thanks to ewe all for giving us such joy in 2022. We wish you a happy, healthy and fun-filled New Year. Here’s to 2023!

Everyone knows socks have a habit of vanishing into thin air, so even the best stocked wardrobe could always do with a new pair. You can guarantee plenty of smiles in the morning with Herdy’s new range of fun and colourful socks. We might be a bit biased, but we think socks are a great gift and here are some reasons why:   1, Socks add a splash of colour to your wardrobe Socks come in colours to suit every occasion. They can turn an ordinary outfit into a snazzy ensemble. As fashion trends come and go, socks remain timeless, so choose your favourite colour and you’re guaranteed never to go out of style. 2, Fun socks make ewe smile Lots of people love wearing socks to express themselves without making too much of a bold statement. Team a fun pair of socks with a serious business suit and surprise your colleagues with a cheeky ankle flash. Herdy’s fun socks are guaranteed to raise a smile.   3, There’s no such thing as too many socks In cooler climates most of us wear socks every day, whether it’s wearing them for work, walking the dog, or curled up on the sofa watching telly. With so many uses a new pair never goes amiss. Socks may be a practical gift but that doesn’t mean they have to be dull. Fun and colourful socks are the perfect antidote to grey winter days. 4, Socks are a practical gift that's not just for Christmas Lots of gifts given at Christmas are never used but you can’t go far wrong with a practical gift like a pair of socks. Herdy socks are made from a cotton and polyamide blend, which makes them durable, comfortable and long-lasting. We guarantee they will still be your favourite socks next Christmas. 5, Great gifts for both friends and family Whilst many people would buy sensible socks for themselves, Christmas is a time to ramp up the frivolity. Treat family and friends to some fun and colourful socks and every time they wear them they’ll smile and think of you. 6, A gift that won’t break the bank Socks are an affordable gift, especially if you have a long list of people to buy for this Christmas. They’re unbreakable and super easy to send in the post, especially if you have loved ones who live further away. So this Christmas if you want to warm someone’s sole (get it!) buy them some fun and lovable socks and make their tootsies smile.