Would ewe believe it?

THE world’s most famous – and formerly loneliest – sheep is expecting twins. Dalscone Farm manager Ben Best happily shared the news on Christmas Day after weeks of keeping the secret that Fiona was pregnant just in case the attention caused her unnecessary distress. The ewe arrived at the Dumfries farm in November 2023 after being rescued by specialist climbing teams. Prior to that, Fiona had somehow survived for over two years by herself on a beach at the foot of an isolated cliff. Two years on and she has settled in well at the farm. And after being paired with a ram, her weight shot up - before a scan confirmed not only was she pregnant but she was having twins. Fiona is having bi-weekly blood tests and is expected to give birth at the beginning of February. Ben said: “We’re kind of at the stage that I can’t believe we’ve got her in lamb. “Just with her whole journey, her weight loss and to get her down to the perfect weight for her health and to get her into lamb. It’s been such a journey. “For Fiona it’s such a nice thing to do because of her story, but it was a story that she never asked for. Fiona would’ve been a regular sheep in a regular flock, she would always have had lambs. “But because of her story some people have argued that she shouldn’t have any lambs which is completely unnatural for her. “So to do this for her and give her that little set of a family to bond with. “She’s had friends but never had that little bit that other sheep get. But now with her own set of lambs which will be completely raised by her, she’ll have them little partners for life that she can raise herself. “This is the best thing we could’ve done for Fiona. I’m so pleased we’ve done it.”