It’s back to school for the herdy company. We’ve just dipped our toe into the world of publishing and produced our first children’s storybook!

‘Herdy Junior and the Big Old Boulder’ follows the adventures of a mischievous young Herdwick sheep. Herdy Junior is desperate to go exploring. Armed with his knowledge of herdy-o-logy (the clever and secret science of how herdies find their way home) he sets off to find new places to play. On his way he meets stern Old Mr Boulder and discovers a host of new friends.

Aimed at the 4-7 year age group, the book is written by Lowri Lynn Webster with illustrations by Stephen Linnell and is published by The Herdy Company. It has been created, published and printed entirely in the English Lakes where the story is set and we’re very proud of it!

We will be launching the book in Kendal at Waterstones on Saturday 18th February. We’ll have signed copies of the book available, a colouring competition with herdy prizes and a book reading at 2pm by Patricia Hovey, a former head teacher from Kendal. All welcome.

Like sheep? Love people? Fancy joining the herdy team?

We’re looking for someone to help cover our shop in Grasmere two days a week. Enthusiasm and excellent customer service are essential, retail experience would be helpful. If you are interested and available to work at least one day at weekends (with possible opportunities to increase your hours as we grow), call 01539 739202 to speak to Diane or Spencer or email your details to mailus@herdy.co.uk

Farming sheep in the Lake District is not an easy way for anyone to make a living, but we’re glad people do. Herdwick sheep are suited to the harsh environment, and thrive in conditions that other breeds would not. By grazing the fells, they help maintain a landscape which would look very different if you took them away.

Our local farmers produce some of the best lamb, hogget and mutton available anywhere in the world. Herdwick lambs mature slowly on the Lake District fells, eating a natural diet of heather and grasses. Considered good enough for the Queen to eat at her Coronation dinner, the resulting meat is lean and loved by foodies for its rich gamey flavour. It’s also been found to contain beneficial Omega 3 fatty acids.

In celebration of the launch of our garlic and herb pots, we’ve got together with some local chefs to bring you a selection of recipes which use Herdwick hogget, garlic and herbs. While lamb meat tends to come from sheep under a year old, hogget comes from sheep which have passed their first winter, falling between ‘spring lamb’ and mutton. We’ve included a few links to Herdwick farms that offer mail order in case you want to try it, but you can of course use other lamb in the recipes if Herdwick is not available.

Warning – these recipes involve slow cooking. Good things cannot be rushed!

The recipes

Huge thanks to Cecilia and Martin Campbell of Cumbria’s Artisan-Food magazine who have test run and photographed all of the dishes, using lamb from Yew Tree Farm in Coniston. And thanks to the chefs for sharing their precious recipes: Caroline at Yew Tree Farm, Coniston, David at The Jumble Room, Grasmere, Cecilia Campbell of Artisan-Food magazine based in Grasmere, and Ryan Blackburn at The Cottage in the Wood, near Keswick.

Where to buy

The main season for Herdwick hogget is January to March. You might spot Herdwick dishes on the menu in good Lake District restaurants, and a number of farms offer mail order.

Heritage Meats Yew Tree Farm, Coniston

Borrowdale Herdwick Yew Tree Farm, Borrowdale

Greensley Bank Farm, North Yorkshire

Fornside Farm, St Johns in the Vale

Wasdale Fell Herdwick, Wasdale Head

herdy teams up with Jamie at Home

You may have spotted our terracotta duo garlic pot and herb pot? Well the army is expanding, and two new pots have joined the family… Meet sauce pot and mini pot!

We’re delighted to announce Herdy have been commissioned to create these exclusive new items for the Jme homeware collection, which is available from Jamie Oliver’s party plan business, Jamie at Home.

The sauce pot is perfect for serving any sauce you fancy, especially mint! It can also be used as a storage pot and is just the right size for keeping keys handy and loose change safe. The herdy mini pot was designed as an egg cup, but it’s perfect too for serving salt and pepper at your table.

The range is designed by us in the Lake District and made in Sri Lanka by a local, family-run workshop whose projects support traditional village potters in the area. Hand decorated, each piece has its own unique characteristics.

Kristen Wilkin, Jme Buyer said, “It is important to Jme to collaborate with designers who are talented and passionate about what they do and herdy definitely delivers on both fronts. Herdy is a socially responsible company and produce goods of the highest quality. We knew our customers would appreciate the huge benefits we see in collaborating with herdy, and that they would find the hand decorated forms of the Herdwick sheep irresistible.”

The herdy pots will be sold through Jamie at Home parties from 1st January 2012.