FOR ITS return to Northumberland in 2021, the National Sheep Association's North Sheep event will be hosted by JE Woodman at Son at Bradford House Farm near Ponteland, it has been announced.

With thousands of farmers expected to attend from the length of breadth of the country, the event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday June 2, 2021.

JE Woodman and Son is a farming enterprise headed up by noted livestock farmer Willie Woodman,who farms with his wife Christine and son Martin. The 2130 acres they farm are located at two bases, 30 miles apart, and include the 930 acres Bradford House Farm near Ponteland and 1200 acres at Great Chesters, a hill farm in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall.

Organised by the Northern Regional Committee of the NSA, which takes in the counties of Cumbria, Co. Durham, Humberside, Lancashire, Northumberland, North and West Yorkshire, Northumberland and Cumbria, NSA North Sheep is a showcase for all sectors of the sheep industry and a key date in the diary for the thousands of people who attend. With hundreds of trades stands, a series of seminars, and dozens of demonstrations, it is an event which encompasses all aspects of the sheep farming industry. With the Woodmans' sheep farming enterprise focussing on producing top quality prime lambs which are sold at Hexham Mart, the farm tour will be highly anticipated and form an integral part of the day.

Purchased by the Woodman family in 2002 to complement Great Chesters, Bradford is now home to a lowland flock of 250 Mule ewes and 200 Texel cross ewes, and is a base to grow wheat, barley, oilseed rape and beans. The sheep flock at Great Chesters comprises 700 Blackface ewes, 250 bred to the Blackface for replacements, the other 500 put to the Bluefaced Leicesters to breed mule lambs. In addition, the Woodmans have 270 cattle, mainly Limousin crosses with a few British Blue crosses, with 50 to 60 bulling heifers. The overall sheep farming enterprise is self-sufficient with the exception of some bought in tups, usually sourced from Hexham Mart.

Speaking on behalf of the family on the announcement of the chosen venue, Mr Woodman, who has been a member of the NSA for many years, said: “It is a huge honour and privilege to have been invited to host this important sheep industry event and we are delighted to do this because it is also a showcase for Northumberland livestock.

“We are looking forward to welcoming people to the farm next year. Our aim is to give people the chance to see a traditional Northumberland farm along with traditional Northumberland livestock. The farm tours will give people the opportunity to see the farm first-hand, our flock of Texels and Mules, the cattle which we sell forward stores, and we will bring down a display of Blackface sheep from the Great Chesters flock.”

Chair of NSA North Sheep 2021, Matthew Bagley, said: “Firstly I would like to thank the Woodman family for agreeing to host NSA North Sheep next year on behalf of the Northern Region. It is 10 years since NSA North Sheep has been held in Northumberland and this is not only a tremendous farm, it is easily accessible and centrally located. The farm is located in one of the UK’ major sheep producing areas and I know that those attending will be keen to see how a successful Northumbrian sheep farming family like the Woodmans run their enterprises.

“We of course must also remember that NSA North Sheep is an important business and educational event and our aim is provide a forum so farmers can access the latest information and advice on production techniques to help achieve better profitability which they can then take home and put into operation on their own farms.”