Our ewes have started lambing like it is going out of fashion with singletons, twins, triplets and quadruplets galore.

For most of the year trying to keep the sheep where they are supposed to be is a never-ending battle; a fence is merely a suggestion easily ignored. But this changes when they begin lambing. They slow down and show endless patience.

As mothers, our ewes are attentive to a fault and it takes a lot of effort and a long time to keep four tiny lambs moving in the same direction. As someone who tries to keep two small humans in something resembling order, I am ceaselessly amazed.