Sheep have a rather lurid history in Scotland. These woollen beasts drove many Highlanders out of the mountains and to the coast and even abroad in the 18th century. Landowners forced farmers off land they saw would make more money with sheep than humans. Nice!
GIE HER A HAGGIS_ Sheep, it turned out, were not quite such a lucrative trade. Although they can be put to many uses – as anyone who has eaten Haggis can attest to. The national dish contains sheep’s pluck (heart, liver and lungs) all neatly nestled inside the animal’s own stomach, alongside onion, suet, oatmeal and herbs and spices. You can’t underestimate the Haggis’ place in Scottish lore – it even features in one of my favourite Burns poems – Address to a Haggis (find it here).
WEIRD SCIENCE _ Knowing that you can do almost anything with a sheep – it’s no surprise that the most famous cloned animal turned out to be a certain ewe called Dolly (named after the buxom blonde country singer after being cloned from a mammary gland cell).
SPINNING A YARN_ It is the furry coat that has captured my imagination, especially as I head into the cold heart of winter it’s my wooly socks that are keeping frostbite at bay. Wool is a central character in the documentary I am filming with Scotland Handknit. Knitting a map of Scotland requires reels of the stuff. Hence why I will spend many a morning on a hillside in Penicuik shooting sheep.
FLOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS_ When it comes to filming sheep you have to keep your wits about you. Think like a collie. Moving in a zig-zag behind them will force them to move forward but without any stragglers breaking away. Stay at the twelve o’clock position from your cameraman and you’ll keep them fenced in. If you prefer a less adversarial approach try and blend in with your microphone.
It seems these camera-shy stars are less timid when there is a fence which separates them from the glare of the camera lens. Most often they want to keep at least 2 metres between you – fine if you have good light, a good zoom and a tripod. If you want them to stare you down instead of munch away at that green, green grass just clap your hands or bleat. I am yet to try wearing a sheepskin on my back, but will let you know how that works out.
And one last thing – invest in several good pairs of woollen socks – those hillsides get frosty.
Jo Gill 