A keen young farmer is over the moon after the arrival of the first lamb in his mini-flock of rare breed sheep. 

Eight-year-old George Chrystal, who lives at Wingate Grange Farm, near Wheatley Hill, County Durham, with parents Will and Sophie, and younger brothers Arthur, six and Teddie, two, welcomed ewe lamb Purdy last week.

After saving his pocket money, he bought mother Minnie two years ago for £100, having spotted her being shown as a lamb herself in a general longwool class at the Great Yorkshire Show.

Her owner promised George he could buy her if she won her affiliated class at Driffield Show a week later, and she stuck to her word when Minnie, a Greyface Dartmoor, took the top prize.

The Northern Echo: George Chrystal, eight, of Wingate who spent his pocket money buying a Grey Face Dartmoor, who's now had her first lamb Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

"George wanted to start his own flock because I had my own, and he's really keen on showing," said Sophie.

 

George Chrystal, eight, of Wingate who spent his pocket money buying a Grey Face Dartmoor, whos now had her first lamb Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

George Chrystal, eight, of Wingate who spent his pocket money buying a Grey Face Dartmoor, who's now had her first lamb Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

 

"He's been desperate for Minnie to have a lamb, but he's had to wait two years, as she was a lamb herself when she came. He had the pick out of the two rams that I had and he chose which one he wanted to go in with her, and he's been waiting really patiently.

"When the ewe lamb came out, she was perfectly marked, and he was over the moon. He'll retain this lamb as long as she goes on well enough, and it'll be part of his flock.

"He's called her Purdy, he said 'mam she's absolutely perfect, I'm going to call her Purdy'."

 

George Chrystals lamb Purdy Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

George Chrystal's lamb Purdy Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

 

George showed Minnie as a shearling last year, and she won several rosettes, most notably being part of the champion team of three for native breeds at Northumberland show.

The Chrystals are better known for their herd of Aberdeen Angus beef cattle, but Sophie got three Greyface Dartmoor sheep five years ago, building up the flock to now have 30 breeding ewes. Their wool goes to nearby Benridge Woolworks, which sells bespoke, handmade, needle felts and selected wool.

The current national flock of Greyface Dartmoors has 3,000 registered females. "Registrations are increasing," said Sophie. "They are a lovely breed of sheep, really meaty, really good mothers with unbelievable colostrum. They do really well by the lambs. We're really trying to push to get the breed out there."

George is already looking forward to 2024, and is hopeful that next time around, Minnie could have twins to add to his flock even further, while younger brother Arthur is already following in his footsteps, having bought a lamb from Melton Mowbray last year.