It is impossible to buy land, says shepherd

Katie Galloway says she spends most of her spare time and money looking after her flock

A shepherd says she has to travel miles every day and spends most of her money on tending to her sheep as she does not own land.

Katie Galloway, 31, started breeding sheep about 10 years ago and is relying on unusual places to keep her 45-strong flock, which include rare breeds, the Valais Blacknose and the Greyface Dartmoor.

Her rams stay at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek in a mutually beneficial contract where they keep the grass down and attract visitors. But, her remaining flock are half an hour away in Camborne.

Ms Galloway said: "The struggle for me is buying land, I can't do it. I'm not from a farming background so unfortunately I haven't had family farm passed down to me."

Katie says she hopes to grow her flock in the future and eventually make a profit

The other site Ms Galloway relies on is in Camborne where a couple bought a house with land and are happy for the flock to graze it down.

She has a full time job as well as looking after the sheep and says most of her money goes on them.

"I feel like all I do is drive around, it's tough on fuel costs," she said.

"I call it 'doing the sheep rounds', checking all of them in different places.

"Always a late dinner for me.

She does not want to reduce her number of sheep because she said keeping a large flock is the only way she can grow her business and "maybe one day make a profit".

Her work has also increased because she has to bottle-feed a lamb, she calls Little Milk Thistle, every four hours after its mother stood on its leg during birth.

"It's been quite tough for me just being on my own and being a lone shepherdess as they say," Ms Galloway said.

"It's really hard for people starting out in farming; it's impossible to buy land and have a farm."

But, she hopes her luck could be changing after a "lovely friend" has offered her some land for her sheep to be together.

"So I can get a certificate as a rare breed farm and do experiences where children and people can come and see the sheep and do smallholding courses and have my own business hopefully," she said.