Herd of rare sheep helps nesting birds in Norfolk

A herd of rare sheep is being grazed on a nature reserve in west Norfolk in an effort to help the birds who nest there.

The Manx Loaghtan sheep have been introduced to land at the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust's site in Welney because they trim the grass to a length that some birds like to nest in.

A herd of 87 Manx Loaghtan sheep has been introduced to the site to graze alongside these cattle.

With the sheep and cattle grazing it means staff at the trust don't have to spend as much time cutting back the grass.

The breed originate from the Isle of Man and in the 1950s they came close to extinction.

Click below for Stuart Leithes' report