Bagot goat

The Bagot breed comes under the classification of vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). There are around 300 breeding nannies left in the UK.

Both male and female Bagots sport impressive curved horns and luxurious long fur, typically with a white back and bottom.

The perfect conservation grazers

Bagot goats are excellent for conservation grazing as they absolutely love munching on shrubs. Their grazing habits help maintain and restore natural landscapes!

This breed has a fascinating history dating all the way back to the 14th century found in records of the Crown. Legend has it that King Richard II gifted one of these magnificent goats to Sir John Bagot of Staffordshire, giving rise to the breed’s unique name.

Anglo Nubian goat

Anglo-Nubian goats are big, tall, and strong, but they are also super calm and loving! You can spot this special breed by their long drooping ears, rounded head and tall body – they are one of the tallest goat breeds. Goats have a special 4-chambered stomach that helps them eat quickly and store food to munch on later.

These goats are super smart and learn quickly.

Shetland pony

This is Mini, our Shetland Pony. Although small, she is now fully grown! She’s very cheeky, and loves attention from our visitors.

You might find Mini in her stable, as we sometimes have to keep her inside, because if she eats too much rich grass, she often gets laminitis, which can cause her a lot of pain to her feet, and is dangerous to her health.

The RBST state that there are now over 900 registered breeding adult females in the UK.

Dales pony

Meet Grace, our Dales pony, a mountain and moorland breed known for it’s strength, hardiness, stamina, courage and good disposition.

Originally a working pony, the modern Dales pony has historical links to lead mining north of UK and is descended from a number of breeds.

These ponies are normally 14 hh -14.2 hh in height and black, brown, bay, grey and rarely roan in colour.

Grace is very special lady being one of fewer than 300 individuals in the UK today.

 

Photo credits: Piers Golden

Donkeys

Meet Arlo and Beech, our friendly farm donkeys.

The donkey is a domesticated descendent of the wild ass and has been used as a work animal for many years. They are a long-lived animal and can live up to 30-50 years.

A male is called a ‘Jack’ and the female is called a ‘Jenny’ (or ‘Jennet’).

Arlo is brown all over and Beech has a white tummy – can you tell them apart?

The featured image is by Piers Golden.

Southdown sheep

The Southdown sheep are sometimes called “babydoll” or “teddy bear” sheep because they have the sweetest smiling faces! These sheep grow up very quickly.

They come from Sussex, and they were first introduced by a man named John Ellman in 1761 at Place Farm in Glynde. Their friendly faces and cute, fluffy wool make them a favourite!

Southdown fleeces have been used to make duvets and mattresses because of how soft they are!

Wensleydale sheep

The Wensleydale sheep come in two colours: black and white, and they’re famous for their beautiful, curly wool! These special sheep come from the Wensleydale region in North Yorkshire, and their wool looks like shiny ringlets. They were first created in the 1800s by crossing two types of sheep to make a new breed – an English Leicester with a Teeswater.

Wensleydales are big and strong, making them one of the largest sheep breeds! Unfortunately, there used to be fewer than 1500 of them, so they are considered “at risk” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Today, they are mainly used for their amazing wool and to help other sheep breeds grow strong lambs.

Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep

Meet Lionel, our adorable Swiss Valais Blacknose, a rare and unique breed of domestic sheep that originates from the Valais region in southern Switzerland, primarily in the Swiss Alps. These sheep are known for their distinct appearance and charming, almost whimsical look, Valais Blacknose sheep are often referred to as the cutest sheep in the world.

The Valais Blacknose has been known for centuries, with records dating back to at least the 15th century. Originally, they were primarily kept for their wool and meat.

Although their wool is not as fine as some other sheep breeds, it is still used in a variety of wool products, particularly those that require thicker, more durable wool.

Manx Loaghtan sheep

This his special breed of sheep, the Manx Loaghtan, comes from the Isle of Man and is considered “At Risk,” which means there aren’t many of them left. They are one of the oldest and most unique breeds we have on the farm!

These sheep are known for their beautiful rich brown colour, and they are descendants of short-tailed sheep that used to live all over Britain a long time ago.

The rams can have two, four, or even six horns, while the ewes can have only two or four.

Gloucester Old Spot pig

Gloucester Old Spot pigs are sometimes called the Orchard Pig or the Cottager’s Pig because they were often kept in orchards where they ate fallen fruit. They were also found on dairy farms.

These pigs come from the area near the River Severn in southwest England. People believe they were created by crossing Gloucester pigs with old-fashioned, sandy-coloured Berkshire pigs.

To be officially recognised as a Gloucester Old Spot, a pig must have at least one spot on its body.