Wensleydale sheep

The Wensleydale sheep come in two colours: black and white, and they’re famous for their beautiful, curly wool! These special sheep come from the Wensleydale region in North Yorkshire, and their wool looks like shiny ringlets. They were first created in the 1800s by crossing two types of sheep to make a new breed – an English Leicester with a Teeswater.

Wensleydales are big and strong, making them one of the largest sheep breeds! Unfortunately, there used to be fewer than 1500 of them, so they are considered “at risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Today, they are mainly used for their amazing wool and to help other sheep breeds grow strong lambs.