Kidding Around at Hall Hill Farm in County Durham

Kidding Around at Hall Hill Farm in County Durham | Caitlin Moran (11) and Amy Moore (10) cuddle the newborn kids at Hall Hill Farm (c) Hall Hill Farm (p) GoUK.com

What

Newborn kids arrive at Hall Hill Farm

When

February half term

Where

Hall Hill Farm, nr Lanchester, County Durham

The Fanfare

The first newborn animals of 2012 have arrived at the popular Durham tourist attraction of Hall Hill Farm so early that they have even beaten the first human visitors of the season.

Waiting to greet the half-term visitors to Hall Hill Farm were the newborn pygmy goats – born in freezing temperatures in the early hours of Wednesday night and Thursday morning – the mostly white, fluffy kids stand no more than 8 inches tall.

“We are always excited when its time to re-open the farm for our visitors, and it’s great to see so many enjoying themselves the farms first day of being open in 2012.

This years it’s an added bonus that we also have our newborn pygmy goats,” said Ann Darlington. “The pygmy goat is quite hardy and can adapt to virtually all climates. They are doing very well with their mothers and we have the heat lamps to ensure they stay warm during this cold spell.”

Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, Durham, named the Visitor Attraction of the Year (small) in the 2011 North East Tourism Awards as well as the National Farm Attraction of the Year last year, employs up to 50 people and welcomes around 60,000 visitors every year attracted by the family fun on offer and the opportunities to see and touch animals at close quarters.

Visitors can see fluffy chicks, inquisitive goats, magnificent Highland Cattle and get close to children’s favourites such as guinea pigs and rabbits, as well as enjoy the Playbarn, a tractor or donkey ride around the beautiful countryside.

The County Durham farm, which opened in 1981, is very much a family business.

Situated on a 291 hectare site near to Lanchester, Hall Hill Farm is owned by Jack & Pat Gibson, whose son David runs the working farm and livery and daughter Ann Darlington manages the visitor enterprise.

Hall Hill Farm is open daily between 11 and 19 February from 10.30am til 4pm.

It is then open every weekend until April when it will be open daily.

You can find Hall Hill Farm on Facebook and Twitter (@HallHillFarm) and at www.hallhillfarm.co.uk