LOVE LAMB Week celebrates the best of British Lamb and is back for its sixth year – but with a bang.

The week-long campaign, which runs from September 1 to 7 each year, promotes the fantastic qualities and versatility of British lamb, as well as a new focus on the greater environmental benefits it brings, making it a sustainable culinary choice.

The industry-wide initiative is supported by UK levy boards and unions, as well as butchers, chefs, retailers and farmers, all teaming up to encourage consumers to try all things lamb in a spectacular showcase on social media.

Isle of Arran sheep and beef farmer, Pete Brown, Clachaig Farm, has successfully been breeding award winning Border Leicester sheep (BLS) for decades. Moving away from the showring of late, he is keen to promote the fantastic meat the breed produces and has been breeding for carcase shape and twin bearing capacity.

“Here, on Arran, our lambs are reared on grass all year round and thrive on the heather – people like that they are as naturally reared as they can be and we have been getting increasing demand for meat direct from the farm.”

Mr Brown, who trades under Bosolo Farms, is all about flavour and quality and he claimed his flock of Borders make the perfect crossing sires and puts them to his Blackface, Cheviots and Lleyns, producing ‘fantastic’ lambs.

The Scottish Farmer:

Border Leicester Sheep make 'perfect crossing sires' according to Pete Brown

He pointed out that it is mostly chops and mince which the public are after but always urged consumers to explore other parts of lamb, with ‘Love Lamb Week’ being the perfect opportunity to get creative in the kitchen.

“This year there has been good demand for lamb as more people are choosing to staycation and people want lamb chops for their BBQ’s.

Read more - Scottish herbs make the perfect accompaniment to Love Lamb Week

“However, we need to find different ways of using lamb and could learn a lot from the Asian community who use the whole carcase and find innovative ways of preparing a range of delicious dishes,” said Mr Brown, who is currently the chair of the Border Leicester Society.

“We need to get better at promoting lamb and selling it here in Scotland,” he continued.

“We rely heavily on sheep exports to the EU and who knows what is going to happen to the industry in the coming years. We have a fantastic product, the perfect ground to rear it and all of the attributes to satisfy the public’s growing interest in healthy, local and environmentally friendly meat.”

Chair of National Sheep Association Scotland, Jen Craig, urged consumers to reignite their love for lamb this week and beyond.

“Love lamb Week is a great opportunity for the industry to showcase the sheep sector, the benefits it provides and the fantastic produce it creates.

“The idea behind it is to tell the story of lamb to the consumer. Starting right from the farm through to the finished product on the plate,” she continued.

“Lamb is often seen as an expensive meat that takes a long time to cook and that’s definitely not the case, Love Lamb Week provides the ideal opportunity to show how versatile lamb is, it’s not all about a Sunday roast, although there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!

“I’d encourage everyone to get involved this week, sharing posts on social media or even making your own videos to encourage people to give lamb a go!”