By Eve Bell

I used to call my little ones my sheep. They’d follow me everywhere – round the shops, through the park, wherever we went. It was like having my own tiny flock trailing behind me. That is, until one day at Tesco when my littlest sheep decided she wasn’t going to follow anymore.

One minute, we’re walking through the aisles, and the next, she’s nowhere to be seen. Cue full-on panic mode. Tesco went into lockdown. They don’t mess about. After what felt like a lifetime, she nonchalantly wandered out of the men’s trouser section. “I was looking at Daddy pants,” she said, completely unbothered by the chaos she’d caused. That was the day I realised she was never going to be one for following the herd.

Last week out walking my dog, I watched three sheep follow each other onto a verge. I began to think that perhaps we’ve been a bit unfair on this whole “following the herd” thing. It’s always seen as a negative – “don’t be a sheep” is what we’re told. Don’t just follow the crowd. I watched those sheep calmly plodding along in a neat line, one after the other. I started to wonder: what if following the herd isn’t such a bad thing after all?

Sheep, by nature, follow each other for a reason. It’s instinctive, and it keeps them safe. There’s security in sticking together and moving with the group. And maybe that’s something we could all consider occasionally. This is especially true in a world that constantly pushes us to be different. It encourages us to stand out and forge our own path. There is value in striking out on your own (like my little one in Tesco), but there’s also wisdom in knowing when to stick with the herd.

Being part of something bigger can give you a sense of belonging, of security. It doesn’t have to mean mindlessly copying others or losing your individuality. Sometimes, following the herd just means leaning on your people when you need them. It’s about realising you don’t always need all the answers. It’s also okay to move with the group when life feels overwhelming.

So maybe we should rethink what it means to “follow the herd.” Those sheep at Tatton Park weren’t mindless; they were moving together, supporting each other in their quiet, sheep-like way. Probably keeping a close eye on my dog, who cares nothing for sheep. But they were not to know that.

I’ll always admire my daughter’s independent streak. But it is important to know when to follow. And when to strike out on your own.

In the end, it’s not about blindly following or stubbornly standing alone. It’s about balance. You need to know when to take the lead. Understand when to follow. And sometimes, just enjoy being part of the flock.