Hadlow College was blessed with clear skies and glorious sunshine as around 10,000 people flocked to the picturesque surroundings to enjoy another hugely popular Lambing Weekend.
Held on Saturday 26 April and Sunday 27 April, the family-friendly event drew in crowds from across the South East who came to celebrate the arrival of spring and experience a packed programme of land-based activities.
The College, Kent’s only rural and land-based college, was a hive of activity as visitors enjoyed the opportunity to meet newborn lambs, explore the beautiful grounds, and discover more about the wide range of courses on offer.
The lambing sheds were a particular highlight, giving visitors the chance to see some of the College’s youngest lambs up close and learn more about the care they receive in their early days.
Beyond the lambs, the College’s other animals, which range from pygmy goats to meerkats, were popular and the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW), based on campus, once again proved to be a major draw, with its fascinating talks and demonstrations providing insight into the care of over 1,000 reptiles and amphibians it supports.
Plenty more was on offer including the Sheep Show, equine displays, tractor trailer rides, a birds of prey display, archery, fun fair rides and stalls, arts and crafts events and plenty of food drink stalls.
Chris Lydon, Vice-Principal of Hadlow College, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many visitors to Hadlow for what turned out to be a fantastic weekend, with the perfect weather to showcase our first-class facilities and the exceptional work of our staff and students. Events like this allow the community to get a real sense of what we do and the huge range of courses we provide. We’re already looking forward to doing it all again next year!”
Hadlow College is Kent’s only rural and land-based college. It is set in the beautiful surroundings of a large managed estate that includes over 265 acres of prime grazing land, woodland, a natural river, three commercial farms, established show gardens and horticultural glasshouses, lakes and other natural habitats.
It offers courses covering Agriculture, Horticulture, Gardening, Agricultural Engineering, Aquaculture & Fisheries Management, Equine, Animal Management, and Floristry.
If you are interested in finding out more visit the subject list page of the College website or register for the Hadlow College Open Evening on 4 June.