According to the Downs Act of 1861, the Commoners of Durdham Down must tether at least one sheep on the Downs for one day every five years in order to maintain a historical right to graze sheep on the land – and today was the day!
At one time, hundreds of sheep grazed on the Clifton and Durdham Downs, with a full-time shepherd employed until 1925 when the growing number of motor vehicles was making grazing on the Downs increasingly dangerous for the sheep.
‘The Commoners of Durdham Down’ refers to 13 groups or individuals who border the Downs, and who collectively have grazing rights for a total of 1885 sheep. These include the University of Bristol Botanic Gardens, Badminton School, Trinity College, the St Monica Trust and individual householders, many of whom took part in the event today.
Shepherdess Melinda Baker brought along eight very friendly ewes and lambs; Sarah from the Spinning Wheel in Clevedon gave live demonstrations of wool weaving crafts using her medieval spinning wheel; and the University of Bristol Botanic Gardens and the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project hosted lively interactive educational sessions for visitors throughout the day, teaching them about the huge range of wildlife and plants that live and grow on the Downs and the surrounding area.
One of the highlights was seeing the excitement of visitors who, under the careful supervision of the shepherdess, climbed into the sheep pen to meet, feed and even hold the sheep.
As well as welcoming residents from Katherine & Griffiths House and St Monica Trust, and over 80 children from Badminton School and Avonmouth C of E School, a number of special guests came along to support the event including Colonel Jane Thompson DL, His Majesty’s Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of the County and City of Bristol; Kalpna Woolf, High Sheriff of Bristol; Councillor Henry Michallat, Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol; Prof Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, University of Bristol; Tim Ross, President of the St Monica Trust; and representatives from the Downs Committee.
SMV’s leader Robert Bourns DL, said: “We’ve had so much interest in the event today, with visitors of all ages fascinated to discover why there are sheep grazing on the Downs – which today is an unusual sight, but 100 years ago, would have been commonplace. With a range of hands-on education outreach activities taking place throughout the day for school children and passers-by, it’s been wonderful to see the significance and heritage of the Downs brought to life with so much fun.”
