Sheep and Goats on the Farm Park
On the Farm Park we have a number of different rare breed sheep and goats that can be seen and fed on the Rare Breed trail. In the spring we also run regular lambing and bottle feeding events where you can learn about and see lambing and get a chance to bottle feed the lambs and kids.
Watch-out on our seasonal events page for more details about the lambing and bottle feeding events.
Norfolf Horn
Origin & History of Norfolk Horn
This is the traditional breed of the Brecklands of Norfolk and were used to create the Suffolk. It was an extensive ranging breed, and they did not take well to the modern enclosing and penning of sheep. Their numbers declined and by 1970 only four rams and five infertile ewes remained.
The Farm Park began an emergency breeding programme with Reading University and The Royal Agriculture Society of England to try to help the breed survive.
The last remaining rams were bred with Suffolk ewes to save the breed. We now have a small population of sheep that are over 80% pure bred Norfolk.
Though the project has been successful the breed is still rare and remains on the rare breeds watchlist.
Golden Geurnsay Goats
Origin & History of Golden Guernsey Goats
The Golden Guernsey is an incredibly gentle, cheeky, and beautiful breed of goat. They produce lovely, rich, creamy milk like their bovine counterpart the Guernsey Cattle. However, it can't compete with the yields of the more commercial goats.
Despite being a specific breed, they have one of the highest levels of variation within the breed of any in the UK. Their colour can vary from pale blonde to a deep fox red, some have shorter hair while others have long, some are naturally horned while others are naturally polled.
Whiteface Dartmoor Sheep
Origin & History of Whiteface Dartmoor Sheep
The Whiteface Dartmoor is a breed native to Dartmoor. Originally spread over Dartmoor and Exmoor, as more land was enclosed and fenced the breed was driven back to Dartmoor.
They are a hardy breed with the ability to thrive on exposed pasture like you can see in Dartmoor.
The ewes can be distinguished from the rams as they are free of wool on their broad white heads. Historically both rams and ewes were horned but now most ewes are polled (naturally horn-less).
Shetland Sheep
Origin & History of Shetland Sheep
Most of these sheep are still situated in the Shetland Islands, but in recent years large numbers have been established in the UK. They are renowned for their high-quality wool, which formed the bases of the Shetlands wool industry. In fact, the Shetlands produce the finest wool of any British breed.
On the Shetland Islands the majority of the sheep are white but Shetlands are also found in a beautiful range of colours from black through to greys, browns and tans.
Shetlands are now proving popular with small flock farmers because along with the fine wool they produce, they are also very hardy and have the ability to produce a high output of lambs from a relatively low intake of food.
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Cotswold Sheep
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Boer Goats
![Boer Kids 1]()
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Hebridean Sheep
![Hebridean 3]()
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Shetland Sheep
![Shetlands 2023 5]()
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Bagot Goats
![Bagot 1]()
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Portland Sheep
![Portland]()
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Kerry Hills Sheep
![Kerry Hills 2023 167]()
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Pygmy Goats
![Pygmy]()
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Norfolk Horn Sheep
![Norfolk Horn Lambs 2023 89]()
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Whiteface Dartmoor Sheep
![Whiteface Dartmoor Lamb 2023 36]()
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Border Leicester Sheep
![Border Leicester 4]()
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Golden Geurnsay Goats
![Golden Guernsay Climbing 1]()
FAQs
- Do sheep have good eye sight? They nearly have 360-degree vision. Sheep have rectangular pupils that give them a wide field of view. They can see behind themselves without turning their heads.
- Do sheep have teeth ? Sheep do not have upper front teeth. They have a hard upper palate that helps them press and break down grass against their bottom teeth
- Can you feed the sheep and goats? Yes the sheel and goats love nothing more than a tasty snack, you can buy our special animal feed on the Farm Park when you arrive.
- Do sheep recognise humans? Research shows sheep can remember up to 50 different sheep faces and human faces for two years.
- How many stomachs do goats have ? Like cows, goats are ruminants with a four-chambered stomach that breaks down tough plants. They regurgitate their food and chew it again as cud.
- How do goats become so good at climbing hills and mountains? Goats have split hooves with soft pads that act like natural gripping shoes. Some agile breeds can scale steep cliffs or even climb trees.
- How do goats and sheep differ? Sheep and goats differ primarily in their behavior, physical traits, and eating habits, with sheep acting as docile grass grazers and goats acting as curious, mischievous shrub browsers.
Stay with us
With an array of accommodation options, from luxurious lodges to glamping safari tents, camping pods, and traditional touring and camping, guests are invited to escape, unwind, and make lasting memories in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Seasonal Events
On the Farm Park we run seasonal events including Pumpkin picking, Festive events where you can meet Santa and animal themed weekends, regular events like guided dog walking and fun horse-riding events.
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