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Could Freedom the lamb become SNP mascot?


By David G Scott

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SHE could be X-rated or a symbol of Scottish independence but a new Caithness lamb must be wondering what all the fuss is about.

"Freedom" the lamb is welcomed to the world. Photo: DGS
"Freedom" the lamb is welcomed to the world. Photo: DGS

"Freedom" was the name given to a recent new arrival at Wardhouse croft near Ulbster in Caithness and once you see her you'll understand how she got the moniker.

She might be called Freedom but this little lamb is firmly chained to mum. Photo: DGS
She might be called Freedom but this little lamb is firmly chained to mum. Photo: DGS

The Highland Teeswater lamb carries a very big "X" across her head – reminiscent of the St Andrew's cross symbol or saltire used in the national flag of Scotland. Instead of the blue element of the flag though, this little lamb carries her tufty white saltire over a black woolly background.

Mum holds a cloven hoof on her wee lamb. Photo: Dena Miller
Mum holds a cloven hoof on her wee lamb. Photo: Dena Miller

Simon and Dena Miller have been living the "good life" for the past five years in the idyllic Caithness countryside between Thrumster and Ulbster where they breed sheep and ducks.

They decided to move from Wick and build the farm from a barren patch of hillside. It's a "constant struggle", as Simon admits, but the couple are obviously delighted with the results of all their hard work.

"There are only 1500 of these left in the country – they're actually on the endangered list," said Simon as he tended to the flock of Teeswater sheep on a Sunday morning.

"We started with nine and have been slowly building up. The wool is unique on these and is really highly sought after."

Dad looks pretty cool too with his woolly dreadlocks swept across one eye. Photo: Dena Miller
Dad looks pretty cool too with his woolly dreadlocks swept across one eye. Photo: Dena Miller

In their first year, the couple sent all the wool over to a buyer in the United States but now they trade globally as well as to companies such as Caithness Yarns.

"It's the softness of the wool and it's length that make it sought after from buyers in New York, Paris, Sweden and Ukraine," Dena said. The wool is used for high-end fashion garments such as shawls.

And how did little Freedom the lamb come about? Dena explained: "Freedom is a Teeswater and Herdwick cross. We did the cross to see if we could get a double-coated Teeswater type fleece. All our other sheep are pure-bred Teeswater."

This cross of longwool Teeswater mixed with the hardy Herdwick, which has Viking origins, has led to the particularly unusual blend which makes up Freedom.

The 1990s film Braveheart ended with the famous cry of "freedom" from the dying lips of William Wallace as he underwent a gruesome execution. It's debatable whether the leader of Scotland's First War of Independence uttered the word but Mel Gibson's heroic portrayal has lingered in the memories of many with a desire for an independent Scotland.

Perhaps Freedom the lamb will become a mascot for the Scottish National Party... It certainly helps that Simon and Dena support the cause and hope that local Nationalist MSP Gail Ross will one day visit their little freedom fighter.


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