There were smiles all round at Hertford Barns Day Nursery in Hertford as children and colleagues welcomed a group of lambs and ewes as a permanent addition to the setting.

At the award-winning day nursery on Cole Green, children of all ages were delighted to meet the adorable new arrivals, which include a group of triplet girls and a pair of twin boys and their mothers, who are settling nicely into life in the luscious fields that surround the stunning barn conversion and stable block, with daily care and attention from pre-schoolers.

From bottle feeding the lambs and discussing their diets, to learning about the process of sheep shearing and linking this to their own haircut experiences, there have been exciting learning opportunities at every turn for the children, who have been captivated throughout.

The animal activities add a valuable new element to the nursery’s Eco-Schools curriculum, linking to key focus areas including biodiversity, for which Hertford Barns have earnt a prestigious ‘Green Flag’, the highest accolade in the international programme which is awarded for exceptional environmental conservation and awareness practices.

At Hertford Barns, children take part in sustainable activities all year round as part of the scheme, from planting and growing herbs and vegetables which are then used in meals by talented Nursery Chefs, to crafting with natural and recycled materials.

Hertford Barns Day Nursery Manager, Jenny Pratt explained;

“The arrival of the lambs has been an incredible experience for all involved, with valuable life lessons about the importance of treating all living things with care and respect. This will support the children’s understanding of the world, as well as scaffold on their communication and language skills and support personal, social and emotional development.”