Lambs? Now? Ewe must be kidding

Three of the Hebridean ewes that keep the undergrowth down at the Llanymynech Rocks Nature Reserve had given birth, not in the spring but at the very end of the summer.

Not only that but there were no rams among the flock – or so it was thought.

The flock of black long-horned sheep are used by Shropshire Wildlife Trust to manage the vegetation.

They nibble away at the wild clematis, or old man's beard, as it is also known, and other shrubs that would otherwise overwhelm the more vulnerable plants such as aromatic herbs like thyme, marjoram and wild basil, and the 15 species of orchid.

The sheep are a popular sight with walkers on the limestone reserve as they cling, goat-like, on to the limestone quarry walls, looking for the more succulent plants.

Colin Preston, from the trust, said: "We thought that all the males in the flock had been castrated, but we were obviously wrong.

"To conceive and give birth at this time of year is apparently very rare in the sheep world."

He added: "We have volunteers that keep an eye on the sheep at Llanymynech Rocks and they let the farmer who helps us at Llanymynech know about the lambs."

A wildlife expert, Mr Preston admitted that he knew little about sheep before the lambs were born, but has had to learn fast.

Three mothers and babies have been taken to lowland near to his home south of Oswestry, where they are expected to spend the winter before being reunited with the rest of the flock.

The Llanymynech Rocks area was the site of mining and quarrying on a small scale for more than 2,000 years, up until the First World War.