TATTON Park has welcomed the arrival of the first lambs.

Mothers and babies – 37 so far – are doing well, and in addition to the commercial crossbreed at the Farm, there is also two types of sheep in Tatton Park’s parkland - Hebridean and Soay.

Darren Morris, Senior Ranger at Tatton Park said: “If you’ve spotted black sheep at Tatton Park, they’re Hebridean, and one of the oldest existing flocks on record, dating from 1887.

“Over the years ours have developed an endearing physical trait called a ‘topknot’, which is basically frizzy hair on top of the head. Our Rangers are reporting the addition of 50 lambs to the flock so far.”

The brown ‘goat-like’ sheep you may have seen at the Park are Soay. This small, primitive breed is thought to have been farmed as long ago as the Bronze Age.

They are later to lamb than Hebridean sheep. For both breeds, the Rangers only intervene if there are complications or if a lamb is abandoned by its mother.

Darren added: “The will of the last Lord Egerton of Tatton requested that two rare breeds of sheep continue to be grazed on the Tatton Estate and today, these unusual flocks can be found in the various paddocks around the Mansion.

“The sheep are a vital part of Tatton’s heritage. Visitors love them and they’re a useful educational resource as well as enhancing the parkland."