SPRING had sprung at Lackham Campus as 10,000 people got the chance to meet, bottle feed and cuddle lambs during two weekends of lambing events.

This year around 800 ewes were expecting 1,500 lambs, and many of those who came along, had the chance to see lambs being born.

Almost 500 of those were twins, there were 96 sets of triplets three quads and 200 single lambs.

Ian Revill, assistant principal for Lackham, park of Wiltshire College, said: “The weather has a huge impact all round and having no mud, rain or snow to contend with always helps and means that we attract more visitors.The lambs seemed completely unphased by having so many children looking after them.

"The students did a great job of driving the visitors around the farm using a dozen tractors, whilst other students talked to the public and sold refreshments and produce." “Our agriculture students have been working extremely hard not just delivering and looking after the lambs during the lambing weekends but 24 hours a day over the past few weeks.”There are still around 50 lambs due to be born before lambing ends.

Throughout lambing, agriculture students work around the clock preparing, looking after the ewes and ensuring the safe arrival of the lambs.

Evie Freeman-Jones started her Level 2 Agriculture apprenticeship in September and said she has thoroughly enjoyed being involved in lambing, during which time she has been assessed on her work.

The 17-year-old said: “I came to Lackham as a pre-16 student with the original aim of being a vet.

“I have loved working on the farms at Lackham and as well as working with the animals I also enjoy getting the opportunity to work with different machinery.

“Lambing has been a really fantastic experience for me, being involved with all aspects from them actually being born to ringing, tagging and worming them, as well as talking to members of the public about them and looking after the hand-reared lambs.”

The campus is hosting an Open Event on April 27 from 10am-12noon.