Farm Celebrates New Arrivals and Birthday of A 50-Year-Old Current Resident!

Various animals will be coming out of their shell at hands-on farm experience Down at the Farm this weekend, as the Houghton-le-Spring family attraction stages a double celebration to welcome its first visitors of the year.

The much loved farm attraction is re-opening for the season this weekend, following its winter break. The 2009 re-opening coincides with a very special event. Sheldon, the giant tortoise, is turning 50 this week and Down at the Farm will be marking this occasion in style, with a celebratory birthday cake fit for a pentagenarian tortoise!

The farm will be using all its knowledge of what Sheldon likes to eat to create a tortoise's dream birthday cake, full of the delicious things he likes to munch. This cake will be a mean old size for a big old tortoise and will keep Sheldon happily chomping for several days.

Owner Catherine Weightman says: "Sheldon has been one of the most popular creatures amongst children ever since he arrived here and we expect many youngsters to visit him at the weekend, to bring him their birthday wishes in person.

"We hope that the presentation of Sheldon's tortoise-style birthday cake will be a memory children treasure for many years to come."

Whilst Sheldon is the oldest resident at the working farm, cute and cuddly new arrivals are currently competing to be the youngest, on a daily basis. The farm already has many new lambs and baby rabbits and guinea pigs and is expecting some fluffy chicks to appear very soon, to further delight youngsters.

Another of Sheldon's new farm mates is Thistle the Shetland pony, who is sure to be a real charmer and win the love of lots of children. She is already a great friend to Bethany the miniature Mediterranean donkey and just the right size to not scare younger ones.

Catherine Weightman says: "This is a great time of year for families to visit us, as we have a wide variety of baby animals on show that children just adore. They are always amazed when we let them bottle-feed our lambs and cuddle some of our baby animals, but this sort of interaction between children and nature is what Down at the Farm is all about."

Other activities for children will be to help groom Thistle, wash the pigs and discover a range of rare breed creatures. These include prairie dogs, pygmy goats, a pygmy hedgehog, kune kune pigs, alpacas and raccoons.

There is also an opportunity to see Xena, the 20-foot python and explore the adventure trail, tiny tots tractor course, jumping pillow and giant sand pit.

The attraction will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm and will be open every weekend and school holiday until Christmas Eve.

Sheldon the giant tortoise will be presented with his giant birthday cake on Saturday, March 21 at 10.30am and families are urged to get their cameras charged and ready!

Entrance to the attraction in which families can easily spend a few hours costs £4.75 for adults, £3.75 for children aged over two and £3.75 for concessions. Family tickets cost £15 for two adults and two children and £18.75 for two adults and three children.

To find out more about what to see and when to visit, go to www.downatthefarm.co.uk