Sheep have been instrumental in creating some of the UK\u2019s most iconic upland landscapes \u2013 from the sweeping fells of the Lake District, to the moors of Devon and Cornwall.
These humble animals have left their mark on our language, our place names and even our architecture. But upland sheep are under fire. As the farm subsidy system changes post Brexit, it\u2019s getting harder to make money out of them. The wool is now less than profitable, and lamb consumption has decreased. Meanwhile, sheep are being criticised by many environmentalists, who say they have degraded upland habitats.
In this programme, Charlotte Smith travels from Dartmoor to North Wales, exploring the places and meeting the people who have been formed by sheep\u2026and asking what their future holds. What is the trouble with sheep? Answers range from being picky eaters, to getting bad press!
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons