Like most, our favourite ‘alpaca seasons’ are in full swing, shearing and birthing! I adore looking at the fleeces as they come off, and we are already starting to plan all the crafty things we can get up to with them. My other favourite thing about this time of year is looking at my paddocks.… Read more »

As I write this blog the 86th edition of the Alpaca Magazine is going to print to be mailed out to you shortly. This is the 24th edition of the magazine I have been responsible for since joining the BAS board in 2015. It has been both fascinating, challenging and only possible through the brilliant… Read more »

At this time of year, our focus is usually centred around the seasonal triad of shearing, births and matings. With our shearing all complete, we have now been fortunate enough to welcome the first of our cria into the world. To date, three of our females have unpacked but to say the weather has been… Read more »

In my previous blog I complained about the rain and now I’m complaining about the lack of it! The weather has been glorious and we have been able to get a lot of outside work done but now I would like some rain please. Not floods of it, but enough to keep the grass growing… Read more »

It’s been a busy couple of weeks. Back in January we put in a planning application for a new shed after coming to the conclusion that, with around 70 births due this year, we wouldn’t have enough indoor space to comfortably fit in all the mothers and cria. Then we agreed to host a judges… Read more »

Shearing time is upon us! I am no doubt preaching to the converted and now is hardly early, but please ensure you book or ideally re-book your shearer early. Many a time I see posts on both the BAS Chat Forum & Alpaca Chat UK asking for shearers in June, July or even later. Think… Read more »

As I sit here writing this, with the sun streaming in the window, I’m wishing my life away, well about two weeks of it anyway. That’s how long it is until the first cria is due on the farm. We mate from the start of May until early July, meaning our cria are expected from Mid April until the… Read more »

Very few new technologies are revolutionary in that they do not wipe away everything that went before. They tend to be rather more gentle in the way they “take over”.  Motor cars overlapped with horses for 50 years, petrol cars will overlap with electric models for 30 years, and so on. In society there are… Read more »

Since joining the board, it has somehow seemed extremely busy ‘at home’ despite the lockdown. From being elected, I really enjoyed the first meeting, which was on my 25th birthday. It was so exciting to have an excuse to properly have to think and brainstorm for a good while. Over the various lockdowns from March… Read more »

Some 12 years ago, Liz and I were offered the opportunity to purchase land adjoining our cottage.    With an offer accepted, we looked at each other, and the question was – what would be the best use of such fields?   We both love animals, it clearly was an opportunity to look after some, yet my… Read more »