Lamb cuddling to continue at visitor farm

A farm that announced it would stop offering lamb cuddling sessions after 25 years of doing so says they will go ahead after all.

Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, based near Ipswich, announced on Thursday it would stop the sessions after it was told open farms were no longer allowed to offer them.

However, on Friday it said following "extensive conversations and further re-reading" of codes of practice, this was not the case and the farm had not breached any codes.

Farm manager Kate Ockelton said the farm had strict measures in place to mitigate risk of illness to visitors.

A statement on the farm's Facebook page on Friday said staff were initially "devastated" by the news.

However, the farm said it was contacted by "several organisations", one of which it worked closely with last year, who were shocked about the rule changes.

It added that following conversations, it had "taken the decision to continue with our lamb holding activities as we are not in breach of the industry code of practice".

The National Farm Attractions Network Industry Code of Practice for preventing or controlling ill health from animal contact at visitor attractions states petting sessions should happen in clean areas away from where animals are kept, hand washing stations should be available and staff should ensure visitors know the risks when petting animals.

Prior to the announcement that sessions would continue, Ms Ockelton told BBC Radio Suffolk of their popularity.

"We've been running Send sessions, we've had private evening sessions, we've had people come all the way from Manchester to cuddle our lambs," she said.

"We've been doing it 25 years. I was doing it at 16 with three bales of straw and just a handful of visitors.

"It's an annual thing for families for generations and it would be so disappointing if we can't do this any more."

Last year the farm was forced to close for six weeks after four reports of visitors unexpectedly catching cryptosporidium and E. coli.

Ms Ockelton said the farm had worked closely with agencies to ensure it was as safe as possible for both visitors and animals.

More handwashing stations have been provided and staff are trained to ensure visitors do wash their hands.

Lambs are also tested regularly for E. coli and cryptosporidium.

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