Distant Vineyard Sheep

Many vineyard owners graze sheep in amongst the vines at differing times of the year. Meadowbank Vineyard is no exception. The sheep are happily grazing in the distant established vineyard. They will eat away at the grass as it grows and help keep the vineyard land in a nice tidy state.
The sheep in this image are some distance away from the fence and Taylor River track. The dogs got quite excited earlier in our walk when the sheep were nearer to the fence-line. The sheep were wise to them and quickly moved further away across the land.
The stony looking land in the foreground is part of the area that has been cleared and prepared for the establishment of more vines. Although tonnes of topsoil have been applied, the ground remains stony as it was originally shingle river bed… hundreds of years ago. This is excellent land for grapes.
The Richmond Range in the distance was shrouded in cloud today. However the intense blue hues of the mountains can still be seen through the clouds. There is a gap through the mountains that is filled with fog this morning. The gap signals the main highway to Nelson and that road is frequently foggy during winter and spring. In today’s blip the sun had broken through the clouds briefly thus lighting up the sheep and the thousands of vineyard posts.