How do you get dozens of sheep to move from field to field? What does it take to gather hundreds of sheep from miles and miles of open country on the moor? If you'd like to get a real insight into life in the Yorkshire Dales, I strongly recommend an hour or two with Richard Fawcett near Hawes any Thursday between now and October.
Are you old enough to remember 'One man and his Dog', the BBC programme that started in 1976 and ran for 23 years, with audiences of up to 8 million people? It was such a simple programme, showcasing the skills of sheepdogs and the incredible communication between dog and handler.
Watching working sheep dogs on TV was mesmerising, but there's nothing like watching in real life as a farmer slowly and steadily works his dog to round up sheep and move them from one place to another.
Thanks to Wensleydale farmer Richard Fawcett you can see a fantastic demonstration just outside Hawes in a field off Burnt Acres Road every Thursday from May to October. Richard talks about local farming life and history, his sheep and then introduces his dogs. He explains how he trains his sheep dogs, how he gets two dogs working together and demonstrates flock work. It's a very entertaining and informative way to spend an hour or so, as Richard is full of anecdotes and stories and very happy to answer visitors' questions.
There are few better places to watch the interaction between man, dog and sheep than in the wonderful Wensleydale setting on Richard's farm between Hawes and Hardraw. He's taken part in countless sheep dog trails, and featured on several TV programmes since he first started the displays as a fundraiser in 1987.
See the comments for his website details, giving time and location.