Lambing Day at Berkshire College of Agriculture – 2nd April 2011

We spent a great day up at the Berkshire College of Agriculture for part of their annual Lambing Weekend.

Despite the fact that the day officially started at 10am and our arrival was approximately 10.03am, we found ourselves already in the fifth row of cars for this popular day out. It seemed that many others had taken the opportunity of the dry and clement weather conditions to view all that BCA had to offer.

Our tour began with looking at some of the smaller animals in the Animal Unit. The girls enjoyed stroking various hamsters, guinea-pigs and mice before moving on to viewing some of the College’s larger animals including goats, pigs and sheep.

Newborn ducklings

Before long, the lure of the tractor-ride couldn’t be ignored any longer and we duly climbed aboard the wooden benches in the trailer with a dozen or so others for the 15 minute ride around some of the fields in the Estate.

All aboard the trailer!

Holly, Rebekah and our tractor

After the tractor-ride the girls decided to visit the trampolines and we spent some time there before moving on to the back lawn where the Main Ring was located.

By now, stomachs were beginning to rumble and I hastened back to the car to retrieve both our picnic rug and some food while the girls played on the bouncy-castle. We enjoyed a picnic lunch with the accompaniment of sheep-dogs rounding up various geese. Holly joined in with the final exercise, along with many other children, and Sarah found herself trapped in the ring with her, after the gate was closed.

Holly and Sarah

After lunch we looked around the various charity stalls set up on the lawn and eventually found our way over to the lambing tent. In here were various newborn lambs with their mothers. All seemed to be a few days old and we didn’t get to witness any arriving into the world.

Newborn lamb

Crowds on the back lawn at Hall Place

Finally, it was time for the inevitable ice-creams, millionaire shortbreads and cups of tea over in refreshment area.

Before we left we looked in on the various horses in their stables before heading back through the numerous daffodils to find our car.

A host of golden daffodils

Emily enjoying her day

Overall it was an enjoyable day over in Burchetts Green at what has become something of a permanent ‘fixture’ in our annual calendar and I imagine we’ll be back there again in April 2012.

Tags: BCA, Berkshire College of Agriculture, Lambing, Lambing Day 2011

This entry was posted by philhbray.

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