Spot the sheep

These sheep were grazing in the pastures alongside Carsington Water. I think the breed is a Jacob.

Apart from being uncommonly attractive, Jacob sheep have a number of attributes which make them good livestock. They are hardy, overwintering outside and being resistant to many of the diseases which commonly afflict sheep; they are prolific breeders with a high lamb survival rate and good mothering instincts and they also produce high quality wool which is excellent for spinning and weaving.

Personally, I just want to pick one up and cuddle it!

The view with the hidden surprise

Out of the woods and across a field, we joined the track which led from the small village of Newton to Threapwood farm. Once again, the rhodedendrons were in evidence as we turned towards the village.

Just short of Newton, we turned aside onto a footpath which cut across fields and eventually arrived at this stile...

This was the best viewpoint in our walk. The Churnet Valley stretched away into the distance, with fields and rolling hills basking under the warm sunshine.

But not everything was basking. As we climbed over the stile, we surprised a whole line of sheep which were pressed right up against the fence, lying in the narrow band of shadow. I don't know who jumped most; us or them :)

U is for undecided

I need some help. I have a laptop which I use in the classroom and I want to choose a background a little more interesting than the standard windows screen.

I definitely don't want to use a photo of the school or the school logo, because we see those all of the time. I want something a little removed from everyday life in school.

What do you think? This one...

...of Tower Bridge in London ? It's relevant because we did a topic on cities earlier in the year, though they might be thinking that we've moved on from there.

This one...

...of the harbour in Pwllheli, North Wales? Quite a few of the children holiday in Wales; plus it's a busy picture and they would like the seagull on the yellow post!

Or, this one...

...because quite a few children have connections to farms or farming families (and besides, most children like animals)?

I'd appreciate knowing what you think.

If you would like to see more U posts on Alphabe-Thursday, click this link.

Stile 3

 I always find these things an absolute pain!

The kissing gate (yeah, yeah - tired joke) was designed for the purpose of allowing the passage of walkers, but not the passage of livestock. It consists of a half round or V shaped enclosure, between which is trapped a hinged gate. Swing the gate away, squeeze into the enclosure, swing the gate back, exit.

The name actually comes from the way in which the gate only 'kisses' the sides of the enclosure, rather than being latched, though it is normally weighted so that it rests closed to one side or the other.

Plusses:

• 
  
  It can't be left open by accident (as if :p)
• 
  
  It can't be tied or fastened open on purpose!
• 
  
  It doesn't need a latch

Minuses

The word 'squeeze' might have been a bit of a clue here. Anyone who has walked with a rucksack of any size (or even worse, a toddler in a back carrier!) will know that these things are not easy to negotiate; the problem being, of course, that if they are constructed with a space large enough for easy passage of a person with a large rucksack, they are also easy passage for a sheep - because sheep are notoriously adept at getting out of places that they are not meant to get out of!

All things considered? Give me a 'climb-over' stile any day.