2026 Host Farm

Wedderlie farm, Gordon, Berwickshire, TD3 6NW

Wedderlie Farm

NSA Scotsheep this year will be held at Wedderlie on June 10th 2026 where all will be welcomed by the hosts John and Marion Tilson and their daughter Wanda.

Wedderlie is a traditional family run Borders farm of 2500 acres, rising to 1250ft. running 1900 ewes and 210 cows. Around 1250acres is rough grazing, 880acres permanent and 190acres temporary grass with up to 80acres in forage crops for finishing lambs and renewing pastures. Great attention is paid to balancing soil sample results and a routine liming policy is fundamental for sustainability.

The hill runs 600 Cheviot ewes which replaced the Blackface ewe flock many years ago. The low ground runs 700 Cheviots with some put to Bluefaced Leicester tups to maintain the 600 Cheviot Mules which are then put to Texel tups to produce finished lambs. Cheviot gimmers are put to Dutch Spotted or Charollais tups, for ease of first lambing.

A small Herdwick flock is kept and Herdwick tups are used to run up in the fourth week of tupping as tups are only out for 3 weeks to keep lambing as tight as possible.

Apart from the replacement ewe hoggs and some Texel x Cheviot Mule ewe lambs sold for breeding, all lambs are finished off grass or on kale.

2-Shear Cheviot tups are bred for sale and for our own use.

The well-known Aberdeen Angus herd of 210 cows is an integral part of the farming system and celebrated its centenary in 2014. The emphasis is very much on commercial traits with bulls being reared on a growing ration so that they last. A good temperament and good feet are essential.

Previously bulls were sold at Perth & Stirling sales with prices up to 25,000gn but all bulls are now sold on farm from a catalogue produced every year and sent throughout the country. This is the 14th year and a wide and very loyal network of customers has been built up.   Surplus heifers are sold for breeding or as store.

A farm tour will allow visitors to see a variety of ewes and lambs, cows and calves, stock tups and bulls, grassland mixtures, reseeding and an informative insight into the farming operation.

This a great opportunity to see a self maintaining upland farm with a grass based system, where the sheep and cattle compliment each other. The attention to detail is exemplary as far as breeding is concerned, where only the best performers are kept for breeding, naturally.