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.

Berkshire pig

Abel is one our Berkshire boar. Make sure you come and see him when you visit the farm.

The Berkshire is a hardworking and calm pig. The females are heavy milkers and will lose very little weight whilst rearing their piglets.

A long time ago, Berkshire pigs were a reddish-brown with black spots. They had thick bodies and short legs. Over time, farmers improved the breed, and now Berkshire pigs are mostly black, with smaller heads and shorter bodies.

Saddleback pig

Saddleback pigs are strong and healthy, and they’re great at eating grass outside. Because they produce high-quality meat, they are becoming more popular for both small and big farms.

They are also very good mothers! The female pigs, called sows, have lots of babies and are excellent at feeding them.

Mangalitza pig

We have recently welcomed two Mangalitza piglets to the farm.

The Mangalitza pig is a woolly breed from Austria, Germany, Hungary, and more. In 1993, there were almost no Mangalitza pigs left, but thanks to dedicated breeders, the breed has made a comeback.

These pigs have thick, curly hair that gets fluffier in winter and thinner in summer.

Cockatiel