Giving Notice

The proportion of the year when lambs are born and still young is quite considerable. Sheep farmers choose when lambs are to be born on the basis of their aim for the lambs, and in relation to the likelihood of favourable weather. In the UK, lambs come into the world from mid-winter until late spring, with March-April as the peak; and so there can be presence of young ones during that period and into summer.

Lambs start out as small beings. They are innocent and unaware from whence danger or harm may come and unversed in how the world operates. Over time they will gain wisdom about what to fear and avoid. But for some period they will not know these things, and so will be very vulnerable.

It is lambs’ very innocence, along with their cuteness, what gives lambs such public appeal. But the love of lambs on the part of the public is, it appears, sometimes only up to a point. That point is when lambs halt or interrupt people from doing what they want to: driving their vehicle along a road in the manner and at the speed they wish; letting their dogs roam unconstrained. Speed on the road, and dogs on the loose are two main threats to lambs. Lambs going across a road may not grasp that they are upon a vehicle thoroughfare and so at risk of being knocked down; lambs in the countryside may not realise that the dog that they see is one of their predators. 

Three of the notices illustrated were seen at various places - roadside - in a military training area. One notice addresses countryside walkers; the other two are for vehicle-drivers who in these particular circumstances might feel the need to drive fast. These circumstances should not preclude, however, the top priority being lamb safety.

The sheep farming community and others who care about lambs’ safety have learned that strong notice needs to be displayed of lambs’ presence, to avoid harm to them due to uncaring human behaviour or other reasons.