Isle of Wight vicar's flock includes real sheep
Six ewes are keep down the cost of grass cutting.
Vicars are used to caring for their flock, but one church on the Isle of Wight is looking after real sheep alongside its congregation.
St Mary's in Brading has brought in six ewes to keep down the cost of grass cutting in a meadow next to the church yard.
The Rev Ali Morley said it also showed the church’s commitment to ecology and conservation.
Now the six ewes have given birth to lambs, which means she has an even larger flock to take care of.
But Ali, who has experience in animal husbandry and a team of volunteers from the church, are taking it in their stride.
Ali said: "We were incredibly lucky because we have a field next to the churchyard that we could put the sheep in.
"The sheep we bought were the beginning of an amazing process that is taking us into animal husbandry, and allows great connections with the local school and community.
"Allowing pupils to see lambing, for instance, is a great way to teach them about nature."