Suffolk farm to resume lamb cuddling sessions after code concerns
A farm that announced it would stop offering lamb cuddling sessions after 25 years of doing so says they will go ahead after all.Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, based near Ipswich, announced on Thursday it would stop the sessions after it was told open farms were no longer allowed to offer them.However, on Friday it said following "extensive conversations and further re-reading" of codes of practice, this was not the case and the farm had not breached any codes. Farm manager Kate Ockelton said the farm had strict measures in place to mitigate risk of illness to visitors.
A statement on the farm's Facebook page on Friday said staff were initially "devastated" by the news.However, the farm said it was contacted by "several organisations", one of which it worked closely with last year, who were shocked about the rule changes.It added that following conversations, it had "taken the decision to continue with our lamb holding activities as we are not in breach of the industry code of practice".The National Farm Attractions Network Industry Code of Practice for preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at visitor attractions states petting sessions should happen in clean areas away from where animals are kept, hand washing stations should be available and staff should ensure visitors know the risks when petting animals.
Prior to the announcement that sessions would continue, Ms Ockelton told BBC Radio Suffolk of their popularity."We've been running Send sessions, we've had private evening sessions, we've had people come all the way from Manchester to cuddle our lambs," she said."We've been doing it 25 years. I was doing it at 16 with three bales of straw and just a handful of visitors."It's an annual thing for families for generations and it would be so disappointing if we can't do this any more."
Last year the farm was forced to close for six weeks after four reports of visitors unexpectedly catching cryptosporidium and E. coli.Ms Ockelton said the farm had worked closely with agencies to ensure it was as safe as possible for both visitors and animals.More handwashing stations have been provided and staff are trained to ensure visitors do wash their hands.Lambs are also tested regularly for E. coli and cryptosporidium.
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Dramatic story behind Glasgow's 'dangerous' railway station
The event tapped into the considerable public interest in the construction of Scotland's first intercity train line, with all proceeds going to the Paisley Relief Fund for workmen injured on the railway. The year 1830 saw the opening of the world's first intercity railway, connecting Liverpool and Manchester. An 1831 prospectus for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway (E&GR) claims that the Liverpool and Manchester line had 'infinitely exceeded the expectations of even the most sanguine'. The success of this line led to demand across the country for other intercity routes. Queen Street Station, 1963 (Image: Glasgow City Archives) The E&GR prospectus sets out how passengers travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow by stagecoach in 1831 faced a journey of five hours, and boasts that a railway connection between the two cities would more than halve journey times, to only two hours. After years of discussion, the legislative foundation for the opening of Queen Street Station was laid with the passing of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Act of 1838. The Glasgow terminus of the line was officially opened at a ceremony on February 21, 1842. Prior to 1838, the site where Queen Street Station now stands was the location of a large rookery. Set within the rookery was Glasgow House, also known as Crawford Mansion, which served as the city residence of James Ewing of Strathleven. Ewing, former Lord Provost and MP for Glasgow, was a plantation owner, enslaver and active pro-slavery campaigner. In 1837, Ewing claimed compensation for the 'loss' of 586 enslaved people on his Jamaican sugar plantations, and was awarded substantial sums by the government. In 1838, Ewing sold Crawford Mansion to the E&GR Company for £35000 – around £3 million in today's money. The mansion was soon demolished to make way for the Glasgow terminus of the newly-authorised railway line. [Image of Cowlairs Locomotive Works, which serviced the Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway, 1921] (Image: Glasgow City Archives) The location of the proposed railway station presented challenges for the project's engineers. The initial proposal had the route into Queen Street running over the Forth and Clyde Canal by means of a railway bridge. However, the objection of the canal company to the bridge required Chief Engineer John Miller to change course, leading to the construction of the Cowlairs Tunnel. While the tunnel allowed the railway to pass beneath the canal, it had the disadvantage of a considerable incline which required incoming trains to be pulled into the station by a steam-powered rope haulage system. Brake vans were attached to the front of locomotives when descending the steep gradient, to keep the speed of the trains in check. The Queen Street of 1842 bore little resemblance to the station as it currently stands. The original station had only two platforms for passengers – one for departures and one for arrivals. Most of the station was given over to goods traffic and warehouses. By the early 1870s, Glasgow Corporation had grown very concerned about the allocation of space for passengers in the station. In letters to the North British Railway Company, which had taken over E&GR in 1865, Glasgow Corporation describes Queen Street Station as 'one of the most inconvenient and dangerous in the city'. According to the local authority, the limited space for passengers, along with an 'immense' increase in passenger traffic, resulted in 'the utmost confusion and danger' in the station, with passengers 'exposed to the imminent risk of being crushed between piles of luggage or of being jostled off the platform and beneath the wheels of the carriages'. The Corporation demanded that the Directors of the NBR submit plans for the improvement of the station as a matter of urgency. After some years of delay, Queen Street Station was almost entirely redesigned, with the new and improved station completed in 1880. It was in this phase of reconstruction that the station acquired the dramatic curved glass roof we know today. 1886 saw further expansion of the station, with the construction of the low level platforms. While Queen Street is sometimes overlooked in comparison to the grander and busier Central Station, it is nonetheless able to claim seniority over its sibling, as Glasgow's oldest surviving railway station.
South Wales Argus
4 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
How Jayne's Baby Bank helped this struggling Pontypool mum
32-year-old Samantha Arnold is a single mum to her three-year-old daughter Kiara. When she first became a mum Samantha was struggling to afford essentials for Kiara. Not knowing where to turn or what to do, Samantha eventually came across Jayne's Baby Bank on Crane Street. Samantha Arnold volunteer at Jayne's Baby Bank with daughter Kiara (Image: NQ) Samantha said: 'I'm a single parent, my daughters now three, my daughter was about 18 months at the time it was coming up to winter and she jumped a size in her clothes. 'I was just really, really, struggling. I'd been to citizens advice for help and they helped me with food, gas and electric, but there was no help out there for nappies so I just happened to find these guys on Facebook and I thought the worst they could say is no.' Thankfully for Samantha she received the support she needed. She added: 'I popped down and met Jayne myself she said all I'd need is something in writing, and she allowed me to help myself to anything that would help my daughter at the time, and it was a really big help. 'A few weeks later I saw they were desperate for volunteers, and I just said I can help but I'll have to bring my little one with me and we've been here ever since.' Essential items for babies at Jayne's Bank Pontypool (Image: NQ) Almost 12,000 babies and children in poverty across Wales have been supported by baby banks in 2023 alone. This is according to data from the Baby Bank Alliance. The same report says that nearly one in three Welsh children have experience living in poverty (29%) since 2023 and baby banks have responded by giving families over 18,700 items such as warm clothes, books, baby toiletries and equipment. Stock at Jayne's Baby Bank Pontypool (Image: NQ) Samantha had the following to say to anyone struggling. 'Pop in. "We are all mums. We've all needed help one way or another. We also support anyone with learning difficulties. You're welcome to volunteer with us. 'We need a wider range of wider volunteers here. 'If you do up to eight hours you get a £20 stock allowance and it's a great help.' Jayne's Baby Bank has shops in Pontypool, Risca Caerphilly and Blackwood. The business is currently looking for volunteers.
Scottish Sun
16 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Fire shuts down Grand Central with ‘mass' cancelations as 100 firefighters rush in to battle flames and smoke
OVER 100 firefighters have rushed to Grand Central after fire and smoke filled the station, halting all trains. Trains have been suspended, streets blocked, and emergency responders are flooding the scene after thick smoke was spotted in the train station in New York City. 3 A two-alarm fire broke out at Grand Central Terminal Credit: X/FDNY 3 The fire and smoke led to widespread disruptions on the Long Island Rail Road Credit: X/FDNY 3 Trains were suspended at Grand Central Terminal The disruption has unfolded near Grand Central Place in Midtown Manhattan, officials said. The New York City Fire Department confirmed it received the first report of smoke at 8:08 am. Dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene to control the smoke pouring out of the tunnel. FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker later confirmed four people were hurt, three firefighters and one civilian. Tucker said crews faced 'zero visibility' as they searched through thick smoke for the flames. 'There was a significant amount of fire in the room where the fire started,' he said during a press update. Initially, 60 firefighters responded to the emergency, according to officials. But the response escalated quickly as the situation worsened inside the tunnel. By 10:16 am, a second alarm had been transmitted, bringing the total to more than 100 emergency responders, both firefighters and EMS, at the scene. Authorities are warning travelers to avoid the area and brace for major delays. Dad and daughter, 9, die in house fire as sister, 11, fighting for life in hospital The FDNY said to "expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel" around the station and instructed people to use alternate routes if they can. 'Use alternate routes,' they added. The Long Island Rail Road was hit hard by the emergency response. Port Washington Branch service into Grand Central was suspended due to the fire activity, MTA said. Train Lines Affected Babylon City Terminal Zone Hempstead Far Rockaway Port Jefferson Port Washington Ronkonkoma West Hemptead Other lines saw westbound trains canceled at Jamaica Station or rerouted to Penn Station or Atlantic Terminal. 'Service in and out of Grand Central has been suspended,' the MTA confirmed. According to the LIRR, eight branches were dealing with suspensions or reroutes as of 11 am. There are reroutes and cancellations on the Babylon Branch due to ongoing fire department activity at Grand Central. Subway lines began cross-honoring LIRR fares to ease the morning rush. As of 11 am, firefighters were still working at the scene, according to the FDNY. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
