Lambing
The Dengie Hundred has many
sheep farms that provide a visitor attraction in early spring at
lambing time when fields are full of delightful young lambs.
Occasionally farms hold an open day at lambing to raise money for
charity. These are advertised locally.
Marsh Farm centre at South
Woodham Ferrers allows viewing of lambs as part of the normal
admission and sells tickets to small groups of people allowing them
to help the shepherd with the lambing itself.
The easiest villages to view
young lambs in fields are Steeple and Southminster.
ADVICE
Park safely and do not block
small rural roads
Farms are private property so
do not trespass on fields, open gates etc. Stick to public roads or
footpaths.
Remember that lamb are very
young animals and so can be scared easily.
Ewes can be very protective of
their newborn lambs, so take care.
Farm animals may carry
bacterial infections such as E.coli 0157 which can be passed to
humans by touching the animals body, droppings or even fences and
other surfaces that they may have touched. This can be particularly
dangerous to small children or pregnant women. So careful washing of
hands is required if anything is touched.
Farm animals are not pets so
do not feed them anything.