The Ushant sheep

The stock of the tradional island sheep has been dwindling since the beginning of the 20th. century, through being crossed with mainland breeds  or with sheep that escaped onto the island following shipwreck ( the Greek Ship Myconos, in 1936). Island sheep were originally quite small, no higher than 50 centimeters, black in colour and weighing about 15 kilos. Some specimens can still be seen in an  animal park on the mainland, at Menez Meur, Hanvec.

The animals are given full liberty to graze all over the island from the feast of St Michael at the end of september to the first wednesday of February, known as the Sheep Fair. The sheep are rounded up into two groups, north and south,  and held in enclosures so that each owner can come and retrieve his animals. The sheep have specific markings cut into their ears enabling the owners to identify their stock. They are then tethered in pairs for grazing until the end of september. In this fashion roaming sheep would create no problems during harvest time. Shelter from the winds was provided by the Gwasked, a star-shaped stone construction erected in the grazing area. The island flock numbers about 600 animals today.

Ushant Ornithological Centre (C.E.M.O.)

Ushant Island and the Molène archipelago form a large ornithological reserve. Over 400 different species of birds have been observed here during the migratory periods.

There are up to 200 sedentary species.

There is also a seal colony on the islets around molène.

www.cemo-ouessant.fr