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We are very lucky here in the UK in that we have four distinctive seasons and here in the countryside farm setting of Barleylands we have a real connection to the changes that the seasons bring, both in terms of animals and the crops growing in the fields that surround us.   Within the Farm Park the warmer weather brings with it new arrivals, in the form of baby animals being born here and animals that we are getting in from other farms.

Last week we welcomed two new Highland Cattle, Flora and Annie and a couple of little Friesian calves who are both boys and are yet to be named.  In fact, we will be running a naming competition for them over the Easter Holidays.  Also, Primrose our lovely Dexter cow is due to calf any day soon. 

In our small animal enclosures two baby rabbits (kittens) were born 3 weeks ago and on the 3^rd April we are getting two eight week old kittens.  Our six Lohmann Brown chicks are looking more like hens now that their proper feathers are growing and there is not much left of their down feathers.  They have been joined by seven Rhode Island Reds crossed with Light Sussex, which are only two weeks old and there will be more coming in time for Easter.  One duckling hatched yesterday, the first one of the year.

Visitors are invited to bottle feed four of our lambs daily.  They will be joined by about ten more in time for the Easter Holidays.  We have five pregnant ewes, carrying ten lambs between them which are due in the first week of April.  One of them is carrying triplets! Next week we will be welcoming some four week old piglets.

Michelle Roberts, Farm Park Manager, Barleylands said “Spring is a really busy time for us in the Farm Park but one that is the most rewarding too.  The baby animals are very popular with children and adults alike.  We are also getting ready for Easter as we have lots of additional activities planned for the holidays, including making hot cross buns in the Barleylands Kitchen, a trail to follow and a craft activity.”