LEWIS and Helen Forster are preparing to receive more than 6,000 visitors to their 1,200-acre hill and upland farm.

The couple host North Sheep 2011 at West Nubbock, Hexham, on Wednesday, June 8. Organised by the Northern region of the National Sheep Association (NSA), it features more than 250 exhibitors, including 40 breed societies and associations.

Visitors include international delegations from as far as Brazil, Romania and Switzerland.

Mr and Mrs Forster combine running a profitable commercial enterprise with caring for the environment and wildlife on the farm.

They aim to produce the maximum kilos of lamb from the ewe stocking rate allowed under the HLS environment agreement, which covers most of the farm.

Mr Forster said: “Our lamb crop has to be of consistent quality from top to bottom.

Last season, our Mule ewe lamb crop peaked at £116 and sold for a very acceptable average of £102 a head.”

The landscape and environment is equally important.

“In the last ten years we have rebuilt 1,500 metres of stone wall, planted 8,000 trees, re-laid 700 metres of hedge, excavated ponds, and managed the vegetation to encourage the farm’s healthy population of Black Grouse, Curlew, Lapwing and many other ground nesting birds,” he said.

Most of the farm is in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and lies at about 800ft.

It carries 1,000 ewes and a 140 suckler cows. Charolais cross calves are mainly sold as yearlings at Hexham mart The core flock is of North of England Blackface. A portion of ewes are bred pure for replacement purposes and the rest put to the Bluefaced Leicester ram, mainly bred from the Forster’s own small flock. The best Mule ewe lambs are sold for breeding through Hexham mart or from the farm, and the remainder put to the Texel.

Texel cross lambs and Blackface and Mule wethers are finished off clover rich swards and marketed from the end of July to independent procurer Stephen Kirkup. The Blackies go to Dunbia/Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference scheme.

The farm works closely with Intake Veterinary Services, Hexham, and operates a proactive flock and herd health strategy.

Grassland management is high on the agenda with 25 acres reseeded each year in a four to ten-year rotation.

After the silage cut, a long term perennial rye mix, rich in red or white clovers is direct drilled to achieve better grass growth from minimum nitrogen use.

Regular farm tours take place during North Sheep along with a series of seminars, demonstrations and Young Shepherd of the Year competition. It runs from 9am to 5pm with the Duke of Montrose, NSA president, officially opening it at 10.30am.