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Hey There
I'm Tracy Betteridge, although most people know me as Bill. I grew up around sheep and have spent a lifetime working with livestock, the countryside and the landscapes that support them. Today, alongside my team of five working sheepdogs, I manage rare and native breed sheep across the Chiltern Hills, helping produce quality food, preserve traditional breeds and support conservation grazing projects throughout the region.
All About Me
Most people know me as Bill, although nobody seems entirely sure why; not even me.
I grew up in Warwickshire where my father was shepherd to a flock of 600 ewes. From an early age I was helping with lambing, hand-feeding orphan lambs and learning the practical skills that come with caring for livestock. Sheep have always been part of my life and, if I'm honest, probably always will be.
After studying Animal Management and Thoroughbred Stud and Land Management, I went on to work across a variety of livestock enterprises, managing both sheep and pigs before eventually building my own flock here in the Chilterns.
What started with a handful of sheep and a passion for rare breeds has gradually grown into Chiltern Lamb. Today I manage sheep across a range of grazing sites throughout Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the surrounding counties, producing quality breeding stock, grass-fed lamb and conservation grazing services.
Bill
The Boss
Alongside me are my five sheepdogs – Storm, Tan, Mole, Spring and Fell. They are not only trusted working partners but an essential part of daily life. Each dog has their own character and strengths, and together they make it possible to manage larger numbers of sheep calmly and efficiently. At home they are family, out in the field they are invaluable colleagues.
While good livestock husbandry sits at the heart of everything I do, I have also spent more than twenty years studying and working with plants, habitats and grassland management. My interest in botany, wildflowers and ecology has led to opportunities to work alongside organisations such as Natural England and BBOWT, helping demonstrate how carefully managed grazing can benefit both livestock and wildlife.
I am currently contracted by Natural England to lamb and rear replacement stock for their conservation grazing flock, as well as providing practical sheep husbandry support and training for staff responsible for managing sheep on conservation sites. It is work I am incredibly proud to be involved in, helping ensure that traditional shepherding skills continue to play an important role in modern conservation.
Today the flock includes a wide range of rare and native breeds alongside carefully selected newer additions. From Jacobs and Herdwicks to Balwens, Black Welsh Mountains, and Dutch Spotted sheep, every breed brings something unique to the flock. Many of these breeds thrive on species-rich grassland and conservation sites, helping maintain flower meadows, support insect life and preserve some of Britain's most important agricultural heritage.
I firmly believe that we should know where our food comes from and that we should eat less, but better-quality meat. Equally, I believe sheep have an important role to play beyond food production. Whether grazing wildflower meadows, supporting conservation projects, supplying breeding stock or helping new sheep keepers establish their first flock, my aim is always the same: healthy sheep, healthy landscapes and a sustainable future for both.
For me, shepherding isn't simply a job. It's a way of life.
