Cathy Cassie – Shepherdess

Cathy is a full-time shepherdess, working alongside husband Darren and his father Brian on their part-time farm in Leicestershire, and also managing the conservation-grazing flocks on the nature reserves for the Wildlife trust in Northamptonshire. The Cassie family keep 14 different sheep breeds, including many rare breeds, a small herd of Murray Grey cattle and a handful of black and buff Orpington chickens. Cathy has three working collies plus the ‘granny’ of the pack who is now mainly a house-dog and poultry-herder!

Cathy is currently working towards LANTRA accreditation as a training provider.

Our ethos is to share and impart knowlege from a sound knowlege base and to make all training days fun, participatory and enjoyable with as much hands-on practical experience as possible. Courses are run on the farm but as there is no farmhouse we use the village hall and the local pub for our catering requirements and indoor parts of courses, so we advise participants to wear a boiler-suit or coveralls and wellies for the practical sessions and to bring a change of footwear. We have a large agricultural polytunnel which provides a light, airy and weatherproof venue for sheep-related courses. Visit website.