A VERY special and tiny delivery took place when six adorable lambs sprang into life at a Wirral high school.

There had been an air of expectation as staff and students at Woodchurch High School awaited the birth of this year’s balls of wool.

And pupils at the Birkenhead school – which operates its very own working farm – were delighted on April 21 when four sheep, of the rare North Donaldsay breed, went into labour.

Two sets of twins and two single lambs soon arrived and became the farm’s cutest occupants baah none.

The bundles of joy, named by staff as Dodger, Daisy, Dexter, Daphne, Deelia and Dennis, are now enjoying running around in their paddock, as well as causing mischief for their parents, and handlers.

Driving past the school – set in the heart of Birkenhead’s Woodchurch estate – ewe would not believe just how impressive their on-site farm really is.

While the six woolly new arrivals are the latest animals to call the school its home, they are not the first.

Already the farm has a variety of farm yard animals, including pygmy goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, quail and a sulcata tortoise, which will grow to weigh a monstrous 10 stone 7lbs.

As well as attracting endless amounts of affection, the young ewes and rams are also helping to increase the population of their increasingly rare breed.

Teacher Linda Hackett, the school’s farm manager, told the Globe: “It’s a conservation project as well as an educational resource for us in school.

“We are really pleased with the lambs this year and they will go towards the North Ronaldsay sheep population for this year.”

While the breed normally makes a home on the Scottish island’s beaches, feeding on seaweed, they could not look more at home at Woodchurch.

Wirral Globe: Eighteen-year-old Megan Lowry, Woodchurch High's farm apprentice technician, cuddles up to Daphne.


Each morning, students volunteer to feed, put out hay and water the sheep and check on their welfare.

Their dedication and commitment to looking after the animals has been demonstrated through their continued success at the Cheshire County Show and this year, Ms Hackett said 10 pupils will be taking part.

She said: “The pupils will be going in for the best handler category, which we have won for the last two years.

“We’re hoping now for a third win and we’re also taking our sheep because one of our ewes won best in breed last year.”

The farm, which has been operating for three and a half years, will soon be adding even more critters to its collection, with two alpacas due to arrive in the summer.

Wirral Globe:
Daphne enjoys a run around with her mum.