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.

Cockatiel

Zebra Finch

The zebra finch is a small bird at just 10cm long, and is the second most popular pet finch. You can visit the finches in our aviary.

These cute little birds live in flocks. The male is much more colourful than the female with orange cheek patches.

They feed on the ground or amongst shrubs and grasses. Being very adaptable they can nest in trees, shrubs, at ground level or below ground in old rabbit warrens! So make sure to look all around to see if you can spot one in the aviary.

Budgerigar

Budgerigars, better known as “budgies” are small long-tailed parrots popular as a pet due to their playful, vocal nature. You can find budgies in our aviary on the farm.

In captivity they can be a variety of colours; blues, yellows, whites and greys, but naturally they are green and yellow with black markings.  You can tell the gender by looking at the colour around the nostrils (royal blue for males and white or brown for females). You can see budgies in our aviary flitting about, preening and enjoying their environment. If you stay very still they may let you come quite close.

Jacob sheep

The name, Jacobs sheep, a dark brown and white patched sheep comes from the story of Jacob in the Old Testament, who bred piebald sheep. During the 17th and 18th centuries, British landed gentry imported the sheep from Spain to be used as ornamental livestock in parkland. Their un-dyed unbleached wool is in demand by the fashion industry.

This special sheep with dark brown and white patches is called a Jacob sheep! Its name comes from a story in the Old Testament about a man named Jacob who bred sheep with different colours.

Hundreds of years ago, people in Britain brought these unique sheep over from Spain to have them as pretty animals in their parks. Today, their soft, natural wool is very popular with people who make clothes because it is beautiful without being dyed or bleached, making it extra special!

Wiltshire Horn sheep

The Wiltshire Horn sheep come from Wiltshire, and they have a special talent— they can shed their wool all by themselves in the spring! This means they don’t need to be sheared like most other sheep. Horned sheep became less popular in the 19th and 20th centuries and that meant less Wiltshire Horn sheep. But some breeders formed a Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society in 1923 to bring the sheep back from almost becoming extinct.

The sheep who didn’t like orchids

Besides shedding their wool, these clever sheep also helped protect wild orchids! In 2011, they were borrowed to graze near a railway, where they ate the bushes but carefully avoided the wild orchids and other plants. These sheep are great at looking after the land, too!

Portland sheep

The Portland sheep come from the Dorset area and are a bit smaller than other sheep. The rams have big, spirally horns, while the ewes have horns that form a half circle. When lambs are born, they have a bright red coat that changes to a creamy white as they grow.

In the past, they were a popular choice for meat, even during the time of King George III. But by 1974, there were almost none left. Thankfully, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) stepped in and helped bring them back to life!

Ship-Shape Sheep

Legend has it that the Portland swam to our shores from ships of the Spanish Armada in the 16th century. But others believe they were introduced centuries earlier by the Romans.

Continental Giant rabbit

Meet Rodney, Albert and Derrick, our Continental Giant rabbits, who live in the Children’s Barn.

The Continental Giant is a very large breed of rabbit also known as the German Giant.

They can often grow larger than some dogs. The longest rabbit was 1.3m and the heaviest is 24 kgs. Their average lifespan is 4-5 years.They are usually friendly with ot her animals and are easily litter trained to live inside as a house rabbit.

Tamworth pigs

The Tamworth pig is easy to spot because of its beautiful red-gold hair! They have the longest snout of any pig breed today, which is why people call them “a plough on four legs”! Their ears stand up, making them look extra alert.

Tamworth pigs are tough and can live in many different places, from rough grasslands to meadows. The female pigs, called sows, are great mothers! They are very gentle, produce lots of milk, and protect their babies.

Shire horse

Lady Rhona is a stunning Shire horse. She joined us in April 2018, coming to us from another attraction. She enjoys meeting visitors and likes to pop her head above the stable door in our Children’s Barn.

Shire horses are big and strong, but they’re also really calm and friendly. A long time ago, they were called the “Great Horse” because they carried knights in heavy armour into battle! Before machines were invented, Shires helped on farms by plowing the fields. When machines took over, Shire horses weren’t needed as much anymore, which is how they became a rare breed.

Lady Rhona is 17.2 hands tall—really big for a horse! She might seem a little rude at first, but once she gets to know you, she shows her sweet, gentle side. Scratch her shoulder or bum, and she’ll be your best friend!

If you spend all day at the farm you will see Rhona grazing in the paddock near the carpark at the beginning or end of the day.

Photo credit: Piers Golden 2018