ORKNEY BORERAY
SCOTLAND’S HERITAGE BREED
Hardy island sheep with an intriguing story
and a newfound future
Custodians of ‘The Lost Flock’
Orkney Boreray make their home off the coast of mainland Scotland’s most northerly point, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea.
As crofters, breeders and Orcadian residents, our responsibility and our privilege is to protect and promote these remarkable, distinctive sheep — a breed, with a storied history, that is now firmly rooted in the ecology, climate and character of this unique place.
We partner with handpicked producers that we know understand the significance of this breed, its history and, when it comes to dining, its unique Orcadian ‘terroir’.
THE LOST FLOCK
The Lost Flock is the story of the remarkable and rare little horned sheep, known as Orkney Boreray, and the wool-obsessed woman who moved to one of Scotland's wildest islands to save them.
It was Jane Cooper's passion for knitting that led her to discover the world of rare-breed sheep and their wool. Through this, Jane uncovered the 'Orkney Boreray'. As her knowledge of this rarest of heritage breeds grew, she took the bold step to uproot her quiet suburban life in Newcastle and relocate to Orkney, embarking on a new adventure and life as farmer and shepherd.
Finding she was the sole custodian of this lost flock she began investigating their mysterious and ancient history, tracking down the origins of the Boreray breed and its significance to Scotland's natural heritage.
From Viking times to Highland crofts and nefarious research experiments in Edinburgh, this is a so-far untold real-life detective story. It is also the story of one woman's relentless determination to ensure a future for her beloved sheep, and in doing so revealing their deep connection to the Scottish landscape.
Our Mission
PROTECTING THE PROVENANCE & PROMOTING THE PRODUCE OF ORKNEY BORERAY SHEEP.
PROTECT
PROVENANCE
PROMOTE
PRODUCE
Opportunities
CROFTING ORKNEY BORERAY
Protecting this remarkable breed and its provenance means opportunities for farmers and crofters who want to take the opportunity to raise their own flock here on the Orkney Isles — employing regenerative agroecological methods, maintaining high welfare standards and growing a small but supportive Orkney Boreray community.
This is a unique chance for young farmers to strike out on their own and be part of the Orkney Boreray story. Our new crofters will have a responsibility to ensure that our name and brand mark is a byword for the utmost quality and provenance — a symbol that consumers will take great confidence in.
TRUE TERROIR
The relative rarity and distinct attributes of Orkney Boreray sheep mean we’re especially selective about how wool, meat, horn and bone is used.
This means partnering with handpicked producers that we know understand the significance of this breed, its history and, when it comes to dining, its unique Orcadian ‘terroir’.
OUR PARTNERS
In our still young history as a community, we have already partnered with a small array of fine establishments.
We believe in forging strong relationships with our produce partners — reinforcing standards, guaranteeing provenance and ensuring that the Orkney Boreray name and logo are a mark of the utmost quality.
