Spring Lambs and Flying Pigs are the order of the day at The Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch near Ashford over April half term. Visitors can come along and meet the new born lambs in the undercover Lambing Tunnel and a lucky few can get to feed them at the Meet the Animals sessions in the Children’s Barn.
Some of our sheep are due to lamb over the Easter Weekend, and the other breeds will Lamb over the Holidays in April. This is because our farmer has timed the breeding of our ewes, so we can have lambs for easter and the holidays.
A ewe’s gestation period is about 5 months. Lambs are generally born in spring/summer when the weather is warmer and grass is growing, with annual lambing (every 12 months) being the most common. Once lambs reach 3-4weeks their milk diet is supplemented with grass/feed concentrates.
As for the Flying Pigs, weather permitting, the famous Rare Breeds Centre Racing Pigs will be taking to the Grand National style racetrack and obstacle course hotly pursued by some volunteers from the spectators. In addition, visitors can enjoy the two indoor play barns, the Mysterious Marsh ‘off-ground’ woodland challenge, the activity trails through the woods to the Secret Lake and much more.