Cute little lambs welcome visitors to Tatton Park farm

New arrivals include 26 lambs, baby chicks and piglets.

Children have been excited to see cute little lambs frolicking in the sunshine as the 40-acre working farm reopened to the public after the long lockdown winter.

“We’ve welcomed 26 healthy little lambs and they are already skipping round the lambing shed,” said Elly Edwards, Tatton Park farm assistant and resident sheep expert.

“We are so pleased with how lambing has gone. It’s our absolute favourite time of year, helping to bring new life into the world and we’re just delighted to be open again so everyone can enjoy the lambs.”

Elly and the team work hard throughout the winter months to synchronise the ewes to all lamb at roughly the same time.

A specialist sheep scanner visited the farm in early February to check on the ewes and count all the unborn sheep.

Elly said: “Once we have this information,we can give the expectant ewes the correct care and feed for the number of lambs they are carrying, to ensure the best possible results for all the animals.”

As well as the fleecey stars of the show, the farm has also welcomed its first newborn chicks this week and piglets were born three weeks ago.

These baby animals join farmyard favourites such as cows, donkeys and geese.

The farm is set in the corner of the park known as Tatton Dale.

In its heyday, it was at the heart of the vast Egerton estate feeding family, guests and staff at the mansion.

The fascinating history of of the site has been brought to life in a Field to Fork project.

Visitors can also meet several rare breed animals including the Leicester Longwool sheep, Clydesdale horses, Tamworth pigs and Golden Guernsey goats.

In 2007, Tatton Park’s farm was awarded Rare Breeds Accreditation and became an approved conservation centre for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, the leading conservation charity working to restore Britain's native livestock breeds.

It is one of only 17 farm parks in the UK to have received the award.

The farm had to meet various stringent criteria involving not only the livestock but the standards of the premises, knowledge of the staff and detailed examination of pedigree records, movement information and health requirements.

Maintaining these endangered breeds of animals is thanks only to the dedication and hard work of the staff.

The farm now has to sustain two viable breeding units as part of its commitment to Rare Breeds and has chosen to concentrate on Tamworth pigs and Red Poll cattle.

The eight breeding cows will help to sustain what is considered one of the original native dual purpose breeds due to its dairy and beef qualities.

The Leicester Longwool sheep is a very attractive breed and was developed during the late 18th century.

A very rare breed of sheep, the White Faced Woodland is also increasing their numbers year on year.

Two different breeds of goat include the rare Golden Guernseys which are gradually growing into a small herd.

There are also two fluffy Angora nannys.

The pig herd includes five rare breeds and each individual has their own unique personality making them great characters to watch.

Four heavy horses include one Clydesdale and three Shires. Blossom, the 18-year-old brood mare is the oldest and mother of the other two, Tabitha and Tatton Summer Sensation.

Tabitha's brother, nine-year-old Friar is a ridden and driven horse and visits the Cheshire Show every year.

All tickets to the farm must be pre-booked online at tattonpark.org.uk