A flock of more than 200 sheep have been seen storming through the streets of a town in the Yorkshire Dales.
It was recorded by Wayne Hutchinson as the group of Swaledale Ewes are seen running through the narrow streets of Hawes, North Yorkshire.
The animals can be seen being herded from their farm to the moorland above the village, a common practice during winter months.
They are followed by a farmer on a quad bike and his border collie, who keeps the sheep in line as they pause to chew on grass.
Mr Hutchinson said: ‘These ewes are ‘hefted’ to this ground, meaning they know and live on this open moor, on their own particular patch, not held in by fence.
The moment recorded by Wayne Hutchinson shows the group of Swaledale Ewes running through the narrow streets of Hawes, North Yorkshire.
The animals can be seen being herded from their farm to moorland above the village, a common practice during winter months
They are followed by a farmer on a quad bike and his border collie, who keeps the sheep in line as they pause to chew on grass
‘Many generations of sheep from this flock will have made this journey, with lambs learning the route from their mothers, who learnt it from their mothers, an unbroken modern ‘migration’ pattern for this flock.
‘A farmer goes on ahead to warn oncoming traffic, but the sheep know their way to the high wild moorland, where they call home.
‘These sheep will stay up on the moors until early spring when they are brought down again for lambing in April.’
A video shared by Wayne on social media has been viewed more than one million times.
One user commented: ‘There is nothing in the world more satisfying than watching a good sheep dog at work.’
Mr Hutchinson said: ‘These ewes are ‘hefted’ to this ground, meaning they know and live on this open moor, on their own particular patch, not held in by fence.
He said: ‘Many generations of sheep from this flock will have made this journey, with lambs learning the route from their mothers, who learnt it from their mothers, an unbroken modern ‘migration’ pattern for this flock’
He said: ‘A farmer goes on ahead to warn oncoming traffic, but the sheep know their way to the high wild moorland, where they call home’
Another said: ‘I love the ‘ooh look, there’s grass’ moment on the corner and the dog coming in saying ‘oh no you don’t! On you go ladies’. Fabulous.’
A third added: ‘Brilliant drone footage and brilliant farmer and sheep dog.’
A fourth said: ‘Is there any more magnificent sight than a farmer and collie in perfect harmony herding sheep?
‘Also love the way the sheep stop off at the green for a quick nibble of grass.’
In September last year Hollywood star Damian Lewis took part in an ‘eccentric’ tradition dating back hundreds of years by ushering a flock of sheep over the River Thames.
The Band of Brothers actor led the 11th annual Sheep Drive across Southwark Bridge in central London today – as he took part in a tradition dating back to the 1100s.
More than a thousand Freemen of the City ushered 50 North of England Mule sheep along a historic trading route to celebrate their medieval right to bring produce to market over the Thames without paying tolls.
Shepherd-for-the-day Mr Lewis, 53, wore his grandfather’s wool coat and carried a crook as he herded the animals over Southwark Bridge in what he described as an ‘eccentric, very British, day’.
Damian Lewis (centre) took part in the 11th annual Sheep Drive in central London today
The Hollywood actor (centre) took part alongside Lord Mayor of London Michael Mainelli (left) and Master Woolman Manny Cohen (right)
Damian Lewis eats a doughnut as he gears up for today’s London Sheep Drive
The Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actor, who is himself a Freeman of the City, was photographed keeping the animals in check ahead of other freemen dressed in black hats and red and fur cloaks at the London Sheep Drive.
The tradition of taking sheep over London Bridge was resurrected just over a decade ago and the event is sometimes held on Southwark Bridge, depending on traffic plans, Mr Cohen said.
‘We’ve just started with a few sheep and it’s sort of taken a life of its own now, and it’s a huge event – it’s the second largest outdoor event of the City of London, other than the Lord Mayor’s Show’, he added.
The fundraiser also has stalls set up around Queen Street and is expected to raise tens of thousands of pounds for the Woolmen Charity, which supports the wool trade, and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal that works to improve ‘London’s most pressing societal issues’.
Previous celebrity guests at the Sheep Drive have included Mary Berry, Alan Titchmarsh and Michael Portillo.
