August brings an unexpected new arrival to Hall Hill Farm

Hall Hill Farm awoke yesterday to find an unexpected new arrival at the award winning tourist attraction in Durham.

The farm attraction’s Tourism Manager, Ann Darlington was alerted to the new born early in the morning by her son Richard who had spotted the lamb in the field with its mother.

The lamb has been born 4 months later than the rest of its flock but appears to be fit and healthy and raring to get involved with her fellow flock members.

Usually born in early spring this new arrival has come as a total surprise. We have never had a lamb born so late in the year and werent really on the lookout for new born lambs at this time of year, said Ann Darlington, Tourism Manager, Hall Hill Farm. We dont know if the heavy snowfall at the end of last year has anything to do with it but its a nice surprise and its a lovely added bonus for our visitors to see a new-born lamb in August.

Hall Hill Farm has a flock of twenty Shetland ewes. The Shetland breed is famous for its fine wool which comes in many natural colours from fawn and gingery brown to black and all shades in between. They are a very hardy breed and display distinctive personalities and behaviour – often funny to watch. Shetland ewes are excellent mothers and are very protective of their lambs that are curious about everything.

The tourist attraction that was named the best Tourism Experience in North East England and also scooped a top prize as the National Farm Attraction Network (NFAN) Farm Attraction of the Year has also seen the arrival of two Highland calves this week, and recently rehomed an orphaned miniature Shetland pony.

Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester first opened as an attraction in 1981 after inviting people to come and see their lambs during the lambing season. It now employs up to 50 people, welcomes around 60,000 visitors every year attracted by the family fun on offer and the opportunities to see and touch animals at close quarters. 

Visitors can bottle feed lambs, see fluffy chicks, inquisitive goats, magnificent Highland Cattle and get close to childrens favourites such as guinea pigs and rabbits, as well as enjoy a tractor or donkey ride around the beautiful countryside. The popular Playbarn also opened earlier this year providing a fun indoor play area for families to enjoy as well as shelter from the rain or find shade from the sun.

The farm is now open daily for the new tourist season from 10.30am – 5.00pm until the autumn. You can find Hall Hill Farm on Facebook and Twitter (@HallHillFarm) and at www.hallhillfarm.co.uk