What is it about baby lambs?

There are quite a few farms on the country road where we live in West Sussex. For the last few weeks Luce and Theo have been peering out of the car window whenever we’ve passed a field with sheep in the hope of seeing baby lambs.

Well, spring has arrived! This weekend they spotted their first wee lambs on our way back from lunch at a country pub. As Luce and Theo are twins they were rather delighted to see some teeny twin lambs. Sheep with baby lambs in field

Twin baby lambs lying in grass

Lambing season has begun in the English countryside. So yesterday after school I took them down our road to see some more baby lambs. They had brought along their cameras to take some pictures too. Luce and Theo taking photosLonely lamb

Most of the ewes this time were at the bottom of the field so there were no close ups at this stop. Although Luce and Theo were rather concerned that a mummy had abandoned her baby as there was one sitting alone nearby bleating away. I reassured them that the farmer would make sure this little one would be okay.

Further down the road we were greeted with a field filled with lambs cavorting about and drinking milk from their mothers. Not being a sheep expert or raised as a country girl, I made sure I read up on lambs as I knew they’d start bombarding me with questions. I explained that lambs can walk a few minutes after they’re born and will drink only milk from their mother’s udder until they can start nibbling grass after a few weeks.Sheep and lambs next to treeBaby lamb with ewe watching

Baby lamb drinking milk from ewe

What is it about baby lambs that turns the countryside into such an idyllic scene? Personally I still remember the first time I saw a lamb being born up in the moors in North Yorkshire. Ewes and baby lambs in fieldBaby lambs in English countryside

I mustn’t be the only one who’s touched by the sight of little lambs. Between 2010 and 2014 the BBC aired three series of a programme called Lambing Live which followed the lambing season at different farms in the UK.  The first series pulled in an average of 2.6 million viewers. That’s an awfully lot of people who tuned into a live reality show on sheep farms!

I’m glad my kids have had the opportunity to spot baby lambs where we live as it gives them a better understanding of farms and the countryside. 

The National Trust has also published a list of places that you can see lambs.

Baby lamb running in field

Little lamb climbing over tree root

The best bit for me was listening to the commentary as Luce and Theo each made a video of the baby lambs in the fields. I need to try and save some clips so one day they can listen to the wonder in their voices as they describe their first impressions of baby lambs in an English country field. Perhaps they’ll also be asking me what it was like to grow up without sheep in a city?

Spring - spot baby lambs in the countryside

 

12 thoughts on “What is it about baby lambs?”

  1. Hi Kriss, I hope you’re keeping well? I have two weeks remaining in my London commute so you’ll see a lot more of me!

    I’m just pulling together the BritMums photo round-up and the theme is Spring. Would love to feature your last photo of the lambs – just adorable! If you’d like it included, please could you send a copy to me at charlydove@gmail.com before Monday evening?

  2. Awww – you are so right – there is just something about lambs … and then they grow up into stupid sheep! There’s a small flock down the road from us and I have to admit to stopping the car and having an good stare at them on more than a few occasions! And hopefully we’ll be getting some sheep and lambs of our own soon.

    Thank you so much for joining this spring like post up with #AnimalTales

  3. Hi Kriss, everywhere look I am seeing signs of spring, with the olive groves seemingly full of sheep with their lambs and goats with their kids. I love it. there’s even the odd hen nwith her chicks!…My children are way past the age of being in awe of all the cutness, but being checked out by a curious lamb or kid as we walk past can’t help but bring a smile to all our faces.

    #AnimalTales

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