Traditional farm skills will be on display this weekend at the award-winning tourism attraction, Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, as master shearer Gary Tyers shears sheep over the Bank Holiday.
Recently named one of the top attractions in the UK, Hall Hill Farm, a family-run tourist attraction on the edge of the Durham Dales, has been providing children and families with an educational and fun day out for over 35 years.
Over the coming Bank Holiday weekend, it is inviting its visitors to enjoy a demonstration of the traditional skill of sheep-shearing on Saturday 25, Sunday 26 & Monday 27 May with demonstrations starting from 12 noon each day.
Domestic sheep do not naturally shed their winter coats which can result in sheep that overheat in summer. But shearing requires skill so that the sheep is shorn efficiently and quickly without causing cuts or injury to the sheep or shearer. Gary Tyers has been shearing for over 30 years and having spent time shearing in New Zealand he can shear 200-300 sheep a day.
“This is a big weekend for Hall Hill Farm,” said Ann Darlington, tourism manager, Hall Hill Farm. “We first opened the farm gates for visitors to see our lambs nearly 40 years ago and they continue to play a very important role for us as demonstrated by the popularity of our recent Lambing love event and ‘lamb-cam’.
“Sheep shearing has been an important part of the UK sheep industry for thousands of years and is also one of the most entertaining traditional farm skills. It is an important part of the visitor experience here at Hall Hill Farm to inform and educate people about the animals, as well as providing an excellent family day out.”
Hall Hill Farm, which employs up to 50 people, and last year welcomed over 80,000 visitors attracted by the family fun on offer and the opportunities to see and touch animals at close quarters, as well as enjoy crazy golf, the jumping pillow or a tractor or donkey ride around the beautiful countryside. The popular Playbarn also provides a fun indoor soft-play area for families to enjoy as well as shelter from the rain or find shade from the sun. This year sledging and climbing have been added to the outdoor fun activities.
