The trans-Pennine spat we reported last week involving the marts at Hawes and Kirkby Stephen over the true heritage and home of the Swaledale sheep breed provoked a certain sense of indignation in the Calvert family household in Low Row.

The Calverts run Hazel Brow Farm and its admirable visitor centre devoted to Swaledale sheep. They built it back in 1996 so the marts' competing plans for their own sheep heritage centres are somewhat Johnny-come-lately in comparison.

Catherine Calvert spoke to Spectator this week as preparations were being made for Hazel Brow to re-open to visitors this Sunday.

"Whilst we appreciate Hawes mart's need to develop new income, it would be nice if our efforts to celebrate the heritage of this breed was recognised," she said.

Quite so. And if readers are looking for a chance to see some Swaledale lambs in this weekend's Spring sunshine, Hazel Brow can be highly recommended.

The albeit modest visitor centre tells the story of the Swaledale breed and as well as seeing and touching the animals, there's the opportunity to learn about the lifecycle of the sheep and Dales farming life.

Oh and there's the added bonus that Hazel Brow is actually in Swaledale.

Here's a tip

THERE'S lunch time, Summer Time, time to live - and tip time.

As the staccato of recent weeks has reached symphonic proportions with the whir and growl of garden machinery, Spectator bowed to the inevitable and set to with the pruning shears.

Able to avoid the Sunday scramble, Spectator partially dismantled the car on Tuesday, loaded in the bags and set off for what Darlington Borough is pleased to call the Whessoe Road civic amenity area and its users call the tip.

O horror, the gates were firmly closed. A queue gathered up, similarly loaded, and we all read the "closed at 4pm" notice. Weather, gardeners and tip had failed to synchronise.

The good news is, the tip opens at 8am and for anyone who can make it, it's a clean and easy time to go. Times change April 1; will the weather?