Next March a local farm will be offering a limited opportunity to experience one of the oldest occupations in the world, at one of the most magical times of year. The farming family of Hare Farm near Rye has set up a series of lambing courses to give people a a hands-on taste into what goes on in the lambing shed come spring.
The day courses are open to adults, no matter how inexperienced. They will learn all aspects of lambing and there is also the opportunity to live like a shepherd and stay overnight in a hut on the farm too.
Lambing courses were introduced at Hare Farm in 2014 and those eager to learn have come from as near as Rye and as far as Dorset and Cambridge. Lambed indoors in a highly intensive operation, the 1,000 ewe flock provide for a busy day of activity.
All aspects of pre and post-natal care are covered on the courses, including spotting signs of labour, managing births, fostering, new born care, feeding and husbandry tasks.
As well as appealing to novice sheep keepers and vet students, the lambing courses have been most popular with those who simply want to experience what goes on in the flesh, having been tempted by watching Countryfile, or Lambing Live on TV. They are extremely grateful to be invited into this magical world which very few get to see. Even vegetarians have attended, and all are impressed by the system and the welfare of our flock.
Dates and times of lambing courses at Hare Farm Hideaways – Tuesday March 15, Monday March 21 and Wednesday March 23, 10am – 4pm each day at £90 per person and each course can take a maximum of eight people.
The price of £90 per person includes a break for lunch at the Red Lion, Brede. Spending a night in the shepherd’s hut at Hare Farm costs £100 for the first night and £60 per night thereafter.
For more information and to book on to a course, or to stay in the shepherd’s hut, please email: Joanna at stay@harefarm.co.uk , call 07802 979348 or visit the website. Course details can be found here.
Photo: David Powell