Lambing At Charlecote Park

Lambing is an amazing time of year and one of the many things I really enjoy as a volunteer at Charlecote Park. The Jacob lambs are so very cute and if you are visiting over the next two weeks, why not join one of the organised walks through West Park up to Polo field to see these beautiful new arrivals for yourself. They have arrived just in time for Easter, which I think makes it even more special. Chocolate Eggs and newborn lambs, just so perfect for Easter!

                                                 Meet Lisa the first born lamb.

Isn't she gorgeous?

This little lamb was the cutest yesterday and the first born but she was born a little small and possibly a little earlier than she should have been. She won everyone's hearts. She was having a little trouble trying to feed from her mother so Adam, Charlecote's Head Ranger, gave her a little of the special formula milk. Some lambs just need a little helping hand, just like some babies do.

She was soon feeding from her mother and running around the pen as happy as could be. I have heard she is doing really well today.

Isn't Spring an amazing time? Everything starts to grow again and we have new life too. It really is a  time for re-awakening. Park walks to see the lambs start again tomorrow, the 6th of April until the 15th of April so plenty of time to see them during the Easter holidays.

Last year I kept missing all the births. They always seemed to happen just before I visited or just after. Yesterday was so special to me. I saw two sets of twins being born which was quite something to see. I did manage to record some of it but only one of the births as there is not always enough warning before these little fellows pop out, especially the second ones. I do have some lovely footage of the seconds after they were born. Their mothers clean them and the lambs taking their first steps. It was really beautiful to watch. I will add the video at the end of this blog for you to see if you wish.

 It is such a special bond between mother and baby and it is the same with Jacob sheep.

Here are a couple of photos of the newborns just seconds old. Isn't it amazing, within a few minutes, these newborn lambs are on their feet while still being cleaned by their mother.

Here is the second set of twins I saw being born. The sack the lambs come out of during their birth is  yellow which is why they look like they do. Slowly the mother will clean them until they look like the fluffy little lamb everyone knows. I could have shown you just the fluffy pictures but this is new life and when it first comes in to the World, it is so wonderful. I though some people might like to see exactly how it is. Plenty of fluffy pictures to come over the next few weeks.

 The lamb standing is only about five minutes old. The one laying down is seconds old. The mother is busy trying to clean them both. It is very important not to get too close to mothers giving birth, especially if they are a first time mothers which some of these are. It can scare them and they might run off and leave their newborn lambs. I had a very long lens on my camera to take these photos.
It still amazes me how quick animals stand up after being born. Nature is amazing!

 The Rangers do not interfere with lambing and allow the lambs to be born naturally in the field they graze. Jacob sheep are said to be one of the best type of sheep for lambing and lamb easily. If there is a problem, the Ranger will help.
After their birth, they are left with their mother for a little time to allow the bond but watched from a safe distance to make sure all is OK. Once the bond is there to see, the Ranger (Adam this time) will pick the young up and slowly move them over to a special enclosed pen where they will be checked and kept an eye on for the first couple of days. The mother will not leave their side so by moving the lambs, it is easy to move the mother too. The pen area is what you see on the organised walks.

The pen is divided into two areas, one for the newborns and one for the day old lambs which are tagged. The first area gives mother (Ewe) and lambs their own private safe area for the bonding to continue.

Twin lambs happily relax in one of the units for the first day or two. 

Nick who is also a ranger, was looking after these beauties when I arrived.

The second part of the pen is still a small enclosed area but out in the open where the lambs can learn to explore and walk a little more. Rangers can still keep a close eye on them here. 

I love watching the lambs, they keep falling over and then just get back up again. They are all legs when first born. Very long legs.

It is lovely to watch the closeness between them. Definitely an 'aahhhhh' moment. :)

Number 1 and number 2.

Once the Ranger is happy with the lambs, they will be put into the main field to run as much as they wish and I can tell you, within a couple of days they have found their feet quite well. Jacob sheep are a very old and rare breed which makes new life even more special. Each new lamb will help keep the line going and what beautiful lambs they are. I feel very privileged to have witnessed these births. Such an amazing experience and a great added bonus to volunteering. If you go to see the lambs over the next two weeks, take a pair of binoculars or a camera with you if you have them. You might just see a birth yourself. Or just enjoy the view of the bouncing lambs around the pen.

Pure love. It doesn't get much better than this. :)

More photos will come over the next couple of weeks but for now, here are the video clips as promised. If you are squeamish, don't watch as I am no expert when it comes to videos and I can not blur parts of the film out. It isn't bad, honest. What I can say is that it is an amazing thing to watch and so natural. For those who do watch it, I hope you enjoy it as it is something you don't see everyday.

The next photo below show the start of the first labour then I switched to video mode.

                                                    The head is out!

 The video is a little long but I couldn't cut any more out of it as I loved it all. Make yourself a cuppa, sit back and enjoy. I am sure there will be a few smiles along the way as you see the lambs learn to walk. :) If you watch the video full screen, change the settings to 1080HD for a better picture.    

                         Nature at it's best, bringing new life in to this world.

                       

               A BIG thanks to Adam, Nick and their team for an amazing day.

                                                    Copyright Jana Eastwood

Upton House 'Banking For Victory'

During both World Wars, many large country homes were used for different purposes. In 1939, Upton House became a bank. It was one of only two house banks in the Country. The Bearsteds had a family bank in London called 'M.Samuel & Co' and thought it safer to move it and it's staff to their country home in Upton for safety. The house remained a bank for the duration of the Second World War.

Upton House have gone back in time to celebrate 70 years since the Second World War ended and what a great job they have done. I have always loved history but found both Wars to be a little too modern to study in my younger years. As I have grown older, I have found a growing interest in this time and appreciate what was done for us all.

Over the last 6 months, staff and volunteers at Upton House have been stepping back in time and transforming Upton to how it would have looked at the time the Bank moved in. Even the smallest details have been thought about.

Yesterday being the first official opening day of the 'Stepping back in time' I just had to go and have a look.

I entered the house as the bank staff would have, through the side door near to the kitchen. The kitchen was full of information about those times. Everything had it's use and it was to be the first time Britain had recycling on such a big scale.

A week's rations.

As we walked into the dining room we were asked to sit down on the benches provided to watch a short film. I looked around a little confused as I could not see a screen. Just then, the air sirens started and up above our heads there were bombers and explosions covering the whole ceiling. To see it like that, so big above our heads was a brilliant idea. If you weren't in the Second World War era yet, you were then! I can't explain the feeling of seeing the bombers above our heads like that with the explosions going off. How it must have felt at the time, I dread to think.

Next we walked through to the long gallery, only it wasn't a gallery any more. It was a large office that looked like a typing pool with a dining area at one side.

                                                       The eating area.

Loved the pie :)

How the long gallery looks now.

What was really nice about this day was that visitors were allowed to touch items and open draws to have a look inside. This is so different from when you normally walk around this house. It was nice to feel the texture and weight of some of the things. It made the whole experience so much better.

Even 1940's pens and pencils had been found to help dress this house.

Lots of wonderful antique typewriters in amazing condition.

                         An adding machine. How different from what we have today.

There are a few old camera's about the house too which I found very interesting, being into photography myself.

As you walked around the house you could see the areas that the bank staff lived in and precious items packed away or covered. 

The Bank Staff's lounge. This room had some lovely old papers and magazines in it.

During the war (and before and after), evenings were often spent knitting. It was one of the ways of making sure you had clothes to keep you warm in the Winter months as coal was used sparingly.

Great patience was needed to undo old knitted clothes to make new ones. Nothing was wasted. I can remember doing this as a child. My grandmother taught me how to knit with used wool. As I got better ,she would allow me to use new wool.

A knitted camisole.

The gas mask that everyone had to carry around with them, even children going to school.

The driving licence and fuel allowance. Most things were rationed during the War.

There were many interesting things in the bedrooms and you can open the draws to have a look.

If you visit, pick up the hair dryer. It is much heavier than you think. You can click on the images to enlarge them if you wish.

The ladies room

                                               And the men's bedroom.

Rag Rugs became very popular again during the War and can now be bought as hobby kits.

A picture of the Queen in her younger years, sits in the boys bedroom.

Useful jobs that girls can do.

Can you imagine travelling with a trunk this size everywhere you go. They really were mobile wardrobes.

Don't miss the room on the lower floor which is normally the Billiard Room. The table is covered with a sheet and on top of it you can see how Upton House staff and volunteers put all this together. There is even a video playing at fast speed to show them in action. I thought this was a lovely touch because often the work behind the scenes can be forgotten and all concerned, had worked very hard through the Winter to put all this together.

It was lovely to see that new rooms were opened and for the first time I could see below stairs in the basement which is I guess was used during air raids.

The Wine Cellar.

A very important room in the time of the Banking at Upton would have been the vault room with it's very thick heavy door and solid walls.

Another room I had never seen before was the laundry room and there was a wonderful collection of irons in there.

The Drying Room

I remember using one of these as a child.

             The old irons. I think I will stick to the one I have!

And the exit out through the basement stairs.

The Orchard may not be full of vegetables as it might have been during the war but it is full of daffodils waiting to open. In one corner of the orchard they are just starting to open but I'm sure it won't take long for the rest to catch up. 

 There were little touches everywhere although it must have been hard work pedalling around Upton and the surrounding areas as it is very hilly.

The shop had also changed it's name.

Before leaving I did have a quick look around the grounds. The terrace garden was closed for re -grassing but I did manage to find a few signs of Spring.

I had a lovely afternoon at Upton, it felt more like an adventure. Well worth the visit.

For more on Upton House and 'Banking for Victory, here is a link....
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/upton-house/things-to-see-and-do/house/


                                          Copyright Jana Eastwood.