Black Sheep draws on history

The picture shows Cathy Wainwright, chairwoman of the Hebridean Sheep Society, and champion ram Lings Nasher, borrowed for the occasion, at the launch of the book, Old Breed For New Times. It costs 20 and is available from margaritapeace@btinternet. com/

It tells the story of how the breed was rescued from the brink of extinction and found a new role in "conservation grazing". The society says it is now "the first choice stock for the management of lowland heath throughout the country". The wool is in demand for high-quality tweeds and the meat sells to gourmets.

The Black Sheep brewery has previously acknowledged the resemblance between the Hebridean Sheep and the one an artist dreamed up for its logo. It owns a flock of them looked after near the brewery.