A CHILDHOOD spent among Jersey cows has inspired a project that is now connecting people across 64 countries.
Jo Logue, who grew up on a farm in St John, began painting Jersey cows on pebbles in 2017.
What started as a small creative idea has since developed into the Herd of Jersey, a growing collection of hand-painted cows that takes the local breed around the world.
The new website brings their journeys together, allowing visitors to search for a cow or location, trace its travels and add its next stop.
Anyone who already owns one of Ms Logue’s cows can contribute by sharing where it has been, while children can draw imaginary adventures and submit them to a moderated online gallery.
One travelling pebble, named Cholula, has already visited 13 countries and made 21 stops.
For Ms Logue, the project has its roots in her early years at L’Hermitage in St John, where her parents kept around 20 Jersey cows as well as pigs and hens.
Her father would rise at 4.30am to begin milking and she remembers waking to the sound of the milking machine.
Although her family eventually left the farm, her affection for Jersey cattle remained.
In 2017, Ms Logue painted a tiny Jersey cow on a pebble and named her Jo, after herself.
She kept the first little cow, but the idea soon grew into something bigger: creating miniature ambassadors for Jersey that could travel far beyond the island.
Each subsequent pebble was painted by hand, given its own name and sent off with its owner to see the world.
The destinations have been varied, from beaches and famous landmarks to mountains and places Ms Logue might never otherwise have discovered.
She said: “When I first started painting the cows all those years ago, I had no idea so many people would get involved, taking their cow pebbles on adventures and sharing their stories and photographs with me.
“It still makes me smile every time a new one comes in.”
The new website is intended to make it easier for those stories to be shared, creating a central home for the growing collection of journeys.
Ms Logue said: “Having a proper home for the Herd feels like the next step.
“I absolutely love the new website and I’m hoping it encourages even more people to join in and share their own adventures.”
The pebbles are individually painted, so each one is unique. They cost £5 and owners are encouraged to take them on their travels and send in photographs so their adventures can be added to the map.
The project also welcomes younger participants through its moderated gallery, where children can draw an imaginary journey for a Jersey cow and submit their creations.
To explore the map or find out more about joining the herd, visit herdofjersey.com and Ms Logue’s shop, Painted Pebbles is located in the Fish Market.
