Farm Smart: Discover The Wild Shepherdess: From farming passion to Instagram stardom & efficient farm management!

Harriet Foster-Thornton, also known as The Wild Shepherdess, is a 28-year-old sheep farmer in North Lincolnshire. Her journey into farming saw her leave a fast-paced marketing career in London to pursue a life in agriculture.

Today, she runs a sheep enterprise focused on finishing lambs, while also making use of by-products such as sheepskin and wool through her growing business.

Building a sheep enterprise from the ground up

Harriet manages a commercial flock of nearly 100 Texel and Texel cross ewes, alongside a small pedigree flock of 20 Blue Texels run with her fiancée.

Her system is built around practicality. She uses available grazing from family land and local agreements to maximise output while keeping costs controlled.

Harriet’s journey started at 21 with just four Suffolk sheep. From there, she expanded steadily, even managing 50 cade lambs while still working full-time in marketing.

Today, her farm is a reflection of that effort — efficient, diversified, and built on strong practical knowledge.

Turning sheep by-products into a business

Alongside farming, Harriet has built a strong online presence through Instagram under @thewildshepherdess.

Her platform focuses on showcasing the realities of sheep farming and promoting the by-products of British sheep production.

What started with selling lamb boxes locally has grown into a diversified business including sheepskins and accessories. Harriet now works with local farmers and abattoirs to ensure more of each animal is used.

Her content shows both the highs and lows of farming life, helping build understanding between farmers and the public.

How Herdwatch has transformed Harriet’s farming

Harriet has been using Herdwatch for over two years and quickly found it easy to get started.

The app has helped her simplify key jobs like recording treatments, tracking medicines, and staying compliant with regulations.

Simple, accurate treatment records

Before Herdwatch, Harriet relied on paper notes that were often messy or incomplete. Now, she can record treatments instantly from her phone.

This makes it much easier to stay organised and inspection-ready at all times.

Better stock control and time savings

Herdwatch also helps Harriet manage medicine stock more efficiently. The barcode scanning feature allows her to add products quickly without manual entry.

By reducing paperwork and improving organisation, the app saves valuable time and helps her stay focused on running the farm.

A modern sheep business built on passion

Harriet’s journey shows what is possible when passion meets hard work and innovation. From starting with just a few sheep to building a diversified farming and retail business, she has created a strong and sustainable enterprise.

Herdwatch now plays an important role in helping her manage that business efficiently, giving her confidence that her records are accurate, compliant, and always up to date.