Flag Fen Archaeological Park started lambing on Monday (April 12) and welcomed seven new arrivals between then and Thursday, with more expected in the coming days.
The new lambs will join the existing flock of 26 Soay sheep at Flag Fen. Soay sheep are an ancient breed which originate from the island of Soay near the Western Isles of Scotland and are said to be a very agile and mischievous breed. Soays naturally shed their wool and do not need shearing.
The lambs have all been named by the Year 3 class at the Duke of Bedford Primary School in Thorney. They include two sets of twins: Alfie, Wendi, Claire and Lily as well as Elsa, Daniel and Puck.
The start of the lambing process coincided with the first day the site reopened after lockdown (April 12) and it remains open every day between 10am and 4pn.
The Visitor Centre, gift shop and restrooms are all open and limited takeaway is available. The buildings that house the artefacts and exhibitions remain closed, however, until government guidance allows.
Meanwhile, at Nene Park, their first two spring arrivals were born on Tuesday on the site’s rural estate. The land, which is shared farmland, houses a flock of 250 sheep, which were all pregnancy scanned last month.
As a result of the scan, a further 436 lambs are expected to be from around the end of the month onwards.
Alongside this, Nene Park have asked that visitors keep their dogs on leads as the stress of being chased or worried by dogs can make sheep much more likely to miscarry.
