Gloucestershire Tourist Guide - Articles

The Cotswold Sheep is in several ways unique as it is a breed which has helped shape the economic history of this country, achieved outstanding success as both wool and meat producer, plummeted from the dizzy heights of world-wide acclaim to the brink of extinction and has survived and is flourishing. It is a story spanning two thousand years, historically significant, rich in detail and exciting in its triumph.

The Cotswold breed originated in the Cotswold Hills of Gloucester, a south midland county of England touching the Bristol Channel. The Cotswold Hills cover an area of about 280,000 acres, have an average elevation of between 500 and 600 feet and are not particularly fertile. The soils do contain considerable lime, and the area raises fair crops of small grains and roots. Because of its mild, temperate climate, the area is well suited to sheep raising. The name "Cotswold" was given the breed because in the early days they were folded or housed in shelters known locally as "cots" or "cotes" and they were pastured on the wild, treeless hills of the area, called "wolds".

The Cotswold Sheep Society, established in 1891, is now a very active registered charity working for the conservation and promotion of the rare Cotswold breed, with a growing membership throughout the UK and also overseas.

The Society maintains close contact with members through regular mailings, with additional help and advice always obtainable from the Society office and from Council members. Our flock advisory service is available to assist with selection of new stock, farm visits or advice on flock management.

The Society holds its own annual show at which we aimed to complement the training programme by including free workshops and discussions alongside the show classes. These days the entries in the show classes have increased so that workshops have to be held on other dates.