英格兰湖区 牧羊人过着令人着迷的生活

Herdwick sheep are native to the Lake District. There are about 50,000 breeding females, but the number is declining due to environmental schemes - 95% of them live in a 20-mile radius of each other. They are classed as "at risk" because of the threats to them.

赫德威克绵羊是湖区本地的品种。仍能繁育的雌性绵羊大约有5万只，但是由于政府开发地产导致环境破坏，这个数字正在减少，它们中95%都相互隔着20英里的距离。由于种种威胁，它们已经被列为濒危物种。

Herdwick sheep are "hefted", which means they hold without fences to a place on the fell, or hill or mountain, because they are taught a sense of belonging by their mothers in their first summer. This stretches back countless centuries and has never been broken.

赫德威克绵羊是很“恋家”的。也就是说，在高地或者山上，不用篱笆圈起来它们都会自己待在某一块地方，因为在它们出生后的第一个夏天，母羊会教它们不要离开属于它们的地方。这种现象已经有好几个世纪的历史了，而且从未被打破过。

DNA analysis suggests that Herdwick sheep really did come by boat with the Vikings a thousand or more years ago. Their closest relatives live far to the north.

DNA分析表明，赫德威克绵羊确实是一千多年前由维京人船运带来的。与它们血缘关系最近的物种都生活在遥远的北方。

Because flocks graze the fells together a system of lug (ear) and smit (body) marks has evolved to identify the sheep, and these are captured in the Lake District Shepherd's Guide which has been published for more than 200 years. Similar systems exist forreindeer herders in Norway and Sweden.

因为不同的羊群会一起在高地上吃草，所以牧羊人有一套耳朵和身体的标识系统来区分不同的羊群，这种方法被记录在了200多年前出版的《湖区牧羊指南》里。挪威和瑞典的驯鹿牧人也用着类似的系统。

The average income of a Lake District fell farmer is £8,500, according to figures from Newcastle University. Lambs are sold for a quarter of their real price in 1970.

根据纽卡斯尔大学的数据，湖区高地农场主的平均收入是8500英镑。在1970年，羊的售价仅是它真正价值的四分之一。

It is a tough way to make a living.

他们的生活十分艰难。