Introduction

My aim is to breed high quality Texels from pure Dutch bloodlines. All my female breeding stock comes from the island of Texel in Holland, where the breed has its origin. Since its establishment in 1987 the flock has become well known for consistency and uniformity. I closely follow trends set by the Dutch Flockbook Association for larger and longer Texels. I attend regional county shows and the flock has won many prizes in the show ring as well as in fatstock classes and carcass competitions. Regular buyers of Wiston Texels expect breeding stock with the typical muscular shape that will be passed on to its progeny. Not forgetting the demands of the pedigree breeder I also pay attention to good looks. The Wiston flock of Dutch Texels is registered with the British Texel Sheep Society: www.texel.co.uk

The home of Wiston Texels is a 100 acre grassland farm on the Essex/Suffolk border by the river Stour. The Stour valley is known as Constable Country and is designated an Area mof Outstanding natural Beauty (AONB).

The farm enjoys shelter from prevailing winds, but its location in the driest part of the UK means that other than one low lying meadow, the soil dries out quickly and the region suffers from drought in most years. All grazing surrounds the house and the farm is ring-fenced which makes looking after the flock easy.

The flock’s establishment was a direct result of having used a pure Dutch ram in my commercial flock. It is only natural that I favour this type of Texel because of my own Dutch background. My first five pedigree Dutch Texels came from Peter Dixon Smith’s Lyons flock – sadly now dispersed.

Three years later I travelled to Holland to buy some females and from then on all additions to the flock came from Holland. In 1992 the flock doubled in size with the purchase of 38 females and five rams from a single source, the flock of CA Commandeur on Texel Island. No females have been added for several years, but by regular trips to Holland I find new stock rams when needed, mostly from the island of Texel, the cradle of the breed. Have a look at the website of the island’s Texel breeders: www.texels-schaap.nl