We had started planning this
day back in September 2002 and decided right at the
beginning that to be any use, an
event concentrating on lambing needed to be held at
the right time of year i.e. before most people lamb.
Rather than risk the vagaries of the February
weather we decided to use our Village Hall as a venue
rather than Beer Mill Farm.
As it turned out, the day was
blessed with glorious sunshine but was very cold.
Trying to hold people's attention all day in
a freezing barn would have been impossible so we felt
we had made the right decision.
After setting up the day
before, we arrived bright and early, meeting up with
our friends John and Norma Sanders who were helping
us with the day.
Despite travelling from as far
afield as Cambridge, Mid Wales, Gloucestershire,
Cornwall Surrey and other counties, everyone arrived
on time. Twenty seven people in all which
was the maximum number we felt we could cope with and
still give everyone the attention they deserved.
Subjects covered included
care of the ewe from six weeks prior to lambing
equipment, normal births, abnormal births and post
lambing care.
We had
constructed a lambing simulator from a variety of
materials including a tea trolley, a plumbing
fitting, a sawn off bucket, a sheep's fleece and a
pair of jogging shorts! Not a likely set of materials
but we think we can say everyone thought the whole
thing very effective. We had considered using a
dead lamb in the simulator but having had experience
of dead cold lambs in simulators in the past we were
determined to come up with something more 'user
friendly'.
A friend, Jane Upton from
Surrey, a multi talented artist/author/photographer
and all round clever person, constructed an amazingly
lifelike lamb which could be manipulated to
reconstruct any lambing position. This together
with the lambing simulator was a resounding success.
Allowing people to experience a variety of
different lambing problems in a positive way.
A neighbour had kindly
donated a dead lamb to allow demonstration of various
husbandry tasks but for Health and Safety reasons,
only one person (John), demonstrated these
with the lamb.
Books, advisory leaflets and a lambing
video were on display and Jane Upton had drawn a
series of very useful explanitary diagrams which
people found useful.
After full day which everyone
seemed to find enjoyable and informative, we retired
to the local pub for a meal with those staying
locally. A really nice way to end the event.
Next morning we went back and
cleared the hall, the downside of this sort of
thing!
We are now working on the
next two Days. Practical Shepherding on May 24th
and Care of the Breeding Ewe and Ram Management on
June 21st.
Press here for more
pictures
If you want to see
if we put what we say into practice. A new section of
the web site, Lambing 2003
with a diary and pictures will start around 1st of
March.
