Well now – I have quite a lot of egg-citing animal news for you this month, as it appears spring has sprung early down on the farm, with a lot of ‘wizardry’ too!!

We have named our 2 new lambs Max and Paddy! Obviously they are both boys and are at present about 2 weeks old. They are very cheeky and very quickly got the hang of being bottle fed. They run out in front of the stage with Farmer Sam, where all our visiting children can take a turn at bottle feeding them. They then enjoy a good cuddle from everyone before going back into their warm cosy bed. They have run off to explore the museum a few times – basically they are just greedy, happy, mischievous (rapidly growing) spring lambs.

We now also have 4 chicks, also growing rapidly and also about 2 weeks old. They are brought round during the animal show every day, so that children can stroke them and are proving very popular with everyone – it’s a real tweet and terribly egg-citing! They are already growing a few proper feathers through their fluffy yellow down and will shortly enter a rather leggy & scruffy stage in their development.

We have a ‘holidaying’ Billy (male) Goat with us at present. He is grey with a beard and is aptly named ‘The Wizard’. He has travelled all the way from a farm in Kirkby Lonsdale, in the hope that his visit will ensure the arrival of lots of baby goats in early summer. We have 9 female goats, so fingers crossed there will be much ‘Wizardry’! He is quite shy at the moment but has a lovely nature and seems to be getting on well with the ladies – no kidding...

Mimi, one of our miniature horses, is starting to look very tubby indeed – we think we may have a new foal within the next month. This will be a full brother or sister to Coco, our 2 year old miniature colt (young male horse), who was the size of a Springer Spaniel when he was born and extremely cute and cuddly.

In fact Coco is at the age where we hope he will soon be suitable to walk around and meet people during the animal shows. He is very friendly but can be full of mischief – so no horsing around Coco!

We also have a baby rabbit at the farm too. A little fluffy white one, who has been named Katie, after one of our volunteers. There is a rumour that we might soon be getting a really Giant Bunny in time for Easter too!

The last piece of news is just as egg-citing. Our much loved farm dog, Betty the Border Terrier(ist), has had a very special visit from an extremely handsome young suitor. Sir Edward of Thornton has very good breeding – one could say ‘doggy blue blood’ in fact.... of course only the very best for ‘Betty Parr’. Anyway, after a bit of ‘wizardry’ we have our fingers crossed for a litter of little Betties in 9 weeks time!!

I will keep ewe posted on any new and egg-citing births, deaths and marriages down on the farm... we are hoping for some lovely spring sunshine very soon!

'Coco' when he was born 2 years ago!