Protesters apologise as overgrown fleece of Britain's loneliest sheep to be auctioned off for charity

The overgrown fleece of Britain’s formerly loneliest sheep is to be auctioned off for charity, her rescuers have confirmed.

Fiona the ewe arrived at Dalscone Farm in Dumfries on Saturday after being rescued by specialist climbing teams, following her stranding on a rocky outcrop near Brora for two years.

The three-year-old ewe, who is said to be “settling into her new home nicely”, now has a new look after her overgrown fleece was trimmed with hand shearers and sent to an expert knitter.

It comes as protesters who believed Fiona would be sent to a “petting zoo” have since apologised to the farm.

Wooldale Wool is crafting items from the fleece that will go on sale to support the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and RSABI, the Scottish branch of a mental health charity for farmers.

Her coat was sent to an 'expert' knitter. — Her coat was sent to an ‘expert’ knitter. Dalscone Farm via Supplied

Ellis, from Dalscone Farm Fun, told STV News: “Fiona is doing really well and settling into her new home nicely.

“We had the vets out on Monday to give her a few health inspections and she’s possibly healthier than most sheep in the UK at the moment, though a little rounder than most as well.

“The plan is to get some items made out of her fleece and all money raised will go to charity.

“Because we’ve also had people message asking to donate to her we’ve just set up a Just Giving page called ‘Fiona’s Fund’ where all money raised from that is going to charity.

“It will be split 50/50 between RSABI who provide emotional, practical and financial support to farmers and agriculture workers going through tough times, and the Scottish SPCA who do so much for animals across Scotland and to help them provide rope access training to their officers so that no other animal has to go through anything similar to Fiona.”

Fiona’s story stirred up a social media frenzy and a dispute emerged between animal activist group Animal Rising and Dalscone Farm.

Police were summoned to the estate on Sunday after activists were accused of harassing the staff there.

Animal Rising have since apologised to the Dalscone Farm staff for any distress caused to staff and the family that live on the farm.