A Summer Tradition: Sheep Shearing at Goodwood

01st July 2026

As summer reaches its height, the annual sheep shearing season begins, marking an important moment in the farming calendar.

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Meet the Flock

Home to around 2,500 sheep and lambs, Goodwood's flock plays an integral role in the Estate's organic farming system, supporting both the landscape and the food produced for the Farm Shop and restaurants.

The flock is made up of traditional Southdown sheep and North Country Mules, two breeds carefully chosen for their suitability to the chalk grassland of the South Downs.

The Southdown has long been associated with Sussex, making it a natural fit for the Estate.

"They've been here for centuries," says Shepherd Nick Page. "We would've been the oldest flock in the country if it wasn’t for the wars."

Alongside them are the North Country Mules, sourced from the same breeder for the past 38 years. Known as one of the country's leading commercial breeds, they are valued for being reliable mothers with excellent milk, producing quality lambs while providing future breeding stock for the flock.

As a Soil Association-certified organic farm, Goodwood also breeds many of its own replacement ewe lambs, ensuring the flock remains well suited to the estate while supporting its long-term sustainable farming principles.

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Why Shearing Matters

Shearing is far more than a seasonal tradition, it is an essential part of caring for the flock, helping each sheep stay healthy, comfortable and ready to graze throughout the summer months.

Every sheep at Goodwood is shorn once a year, with early July providing the ideal conditions. Removing the fleece helps sheep regulate their body temperature, reduces the risk of flystrike and encourages them to spend more time grazing rather than seeking shade.

"Once they've been shorn, they're much cooler," Nick explains. "They're out eating instead of standing in the shade."

Timing is important, with the team working around the weather to ensure the process is as comfortable as possible for both the sheep and the shearers.

"We're good mates” Nick says about his shearing team “We've worked together for years, so it's a relaxed environment… that's important because the sheep stay relaxed too."

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A Day of Shearing

Shearing begins early in the day, particularly when warmer weather is forecast. The sheep are quietly gathered from the surrounding fields before, guided by Nick's sheepdogs, the flock moves calmly into the pens, with every stage carefully managed to minimise stress.

"It takes us about four days to shear the whole flock," Nick says.

Although it is one of the busiest weeks of the year, years of experience, familiar faces and well-practised routines make shearing an enjoyable part of the farming calendar.

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Grazing the South Downs

The flock's role extends far beyond shearing season. Throughout the year, the sheep graze the chalk downland around the 4500 acres of farm land, helping to naturally manage the landscape. They favour shorter grass, allowing biodiversity to flourish while maintaining the character of the South Downs.

Alongside the estate's cattle, they form an important part of Goodwood's regenerative, organic farming system, improving soil health and supporting wildlife across the landscape. Nick operates closely with Ian and his cattle to move around the estate’s fields and ensure the land is cared for and the animals have the best soil to thrive on.

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Life with the Flock

For Nick, caring for sheep has been a way of life for more than 40 years at Goodwood. Working alongside his daughter Amy and colleague Ryan Chamber, no two days are ever the same. Each morning begins with a drive around the fields, checking the flock and making sure every sheep has what it needs, but each new day brings its own unique roles and responsibilities for the team.

"I love my job. I love the sheep. And I love Goodwood. There's always something different happening here. No day at Goodwood is the same"

And Goodwood Revival last year was no exception. Nick herded his sheep across the Goodwood Motor Circuit track as part of a Revival Jim Clark celebration.

"It was stressful," he laughs, "but I loved it."

Read more about the story here.

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Looking Ahead

As the flock returns to the fields after shearing, the South Downs once again becomes a place for them to freely roam. Lighter fleeces mean healthier, more comfortable sheep, free to graze the rolling hills that have supported the breed for centuries.

For visitors, sheep shearing is a familiar sign that summer has arrived. For the farming team, it is another chapter in a year defined by the changing seasons, careful stewardship and a shared commitment to caring for both the land and the animals.

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Get Involved

Take part in a two to three hour hands-on sheep herding experience at Goodwood Home Farm, in which teams will learn how to guide and manage a flock using traditional techniques and sheepdog commands, led by Nick Page.

Working together to build herding pens and move sheep across the landscape, this is a practical, engaging experience that brings teamwork, communication and leadership to life in a completely different environment.

Find out more about team building here.

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