Farming
There are 31 farms on the ranges all of which raise sheep. This part of Northumberland is one of the most important sheep farming areas in the country.
The cold climate and moorland soils and vegetation limit agriculture to grazing for hardy breeds though some forage is grown on improved land. Many of the farms also raise cattle for beef.
Sheep flocks are ‘hefted’ to their ground - meaning they don’t wander from their own area so the land is unfenced. Please keep your dog on a leash when near any livestock.
The flocks are mainly Scottish Blackface or Cheviot sheep. The Blackface have black or black and white faces. The Cheviot have white wool free faces and long muzzles.
The average size of a farm is 680 hectares. These can support large flocks of hundreds of sheep.
All live firing stops between mid April to mid May for the ‘lambing break’ and the MOD keeps the farmers informed of training activities so that the shepherds can move the flocks to safety.
Further information on farming within this area can be found here.
