CUDDLES with some of the cutest “woollies” in the world are putting smiles on faces across Teesdale thanks to Piercebridge’s Emily Newton and her growing flock of Valais blacknose sheep.
The 26-year-old launched Ewenique Events more than a year ago, hiring out some of her lambs for meet and greet sessions at parties and weddings, and has been overwhelmed by the response.
The small black faces combined with soft white fleece has earned the domestic breed, which originates in the mountains of the canton of Valais, in Switzerland, the reputation of being the cutest sheep in the world and certainly have been a big hit across the dale.
She said: “They go to children’s parties and weddings and we do therapy in schools for children with special needs. I started this business only since Covid. I started a year ago and as soon as I put it online it took off.”
Initially purchasing two Valois Blacknose Sheep to “see how things go” Ms Newton now has a flock of 26 and has been breeding them for close to a year. Since launching the unusual event business she has had help from farming friends along with her family and has continued her day job renting out storage containers in Bishop Auckland.
As well as being inundated with bookings for celebratory events the lambs, Ms Newton affectionately refers to as “woollies, are in demand as therapy sheep.
She added: “Every weekend until the end of October is booked out and then we have school contracts and contracts with hospices for palliative care.
“We have spent a lot of time with people with terminal illnesses and they are hugely beneficial. People love to groom and stroke them and they [the sheep] will stand all day being brushed.
“People can’t get over how big they are and the length of their fleece, but the main thing I hear from people is just how friendly they are and they love nothing more than being groomed and fussed.”
It’s not just children who seem to fall instantly in love with the adorable looking lambs, adults are just as susceptible to their charms.
At a recent wellbeing session at Gainford GP surgery staff delighted in meeting, grooming and feeding four-month-old lambs Nimpy and Noodle.
