One great thing about Scotland is the right to roam. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 allowed everyone the right to access land and inland water across the country. But us sheep have been doing it for much longer than that. This summer I’ve bumped into quite a few tourists who have been surprised to find us also wandering around freely enjoying the landscape. Apparently it makes our meat very tasty although I don’t really want to think about that. But it’s made me realize what a good life we have here compared to our brothers and sisters in the factory farming world. We are able to explore the fields and glens on our ease, nibbling the grass and heather and sniffing the wild herbs and flowers. And just looking at the world around us, like this great poem of William Henry Davies encourages us to do.

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows …

W.H. Davies himself knew all about roaming. For most of his life he lived without a fixed roof over his head, trying to sell his poems from door to door. He hardly sold a single copy. If only he knew how many people were reading this poem now!