If you're looking for the ultimate alpaca experience then this farm in Newark is certainly for you. Jandj Alpaca gives you the chance to walk and feed the quirky animal - and even watch them give birth outside the cafe's window.
The family-owned business, situated in the village of Dry Doddington, in between Newark and Grantham, also customers the option to top off their experience with some alpaca latte art in their coffee. The family decided to expand their farm back in 2005 acquiring themselves four alpacas. Now, 96 alpaca's later, they haven't looked back.
In 2018 the family decided to add an alpaca cafe, along with a shop that sells unique socks made with alpaca fur. It is run by Clare and Martin Stanger, along with their daughter Jess Stanger, 25. Jess said: "Mum and dad wanted to diversify something that my brother and I could take part in, I was always scared of the cows that we used to have. They [the alpacas] are a lot more gentle.
"It's nice to be able to share the alpacas with the public and the alpacas love it as well. They like the attention." Jess said that 15 alpacas are due to be born from May onwards. Some are named after Disney characters and even Emmerdale characters, as reported by LincolnshireLive.
Lincolnshire Live joined alpacas, Teal and Bellamy, on their trek, and Jess said that they can take up to six alpacas trekking at a time. The family will be entering the National Alpaca Show in Telford later this month, which is the largest alpaca competition held in Europe. Eight of their alpacas will be entered into the competition and will be judged on physical aspects such as the fineness and density of their fur, which can be around three inches long.
One of the common traits of alpacas is spitting, which Jess said is within their nature and usually a sign that they want more space. Jess said: "They're so loving and very inquisitive, I love how interesting they are, they touch your soul I think. We start training them when they've been weaned off their mum's.
"It's slow and steady to start off with and they pick it up within a week to two weeks." The centre and shop are open from 10am until 4pm from Wednesdays to Sundays, and entry to the centre and cafe is free. The centre offers several alpaca experiences, including a trekking experience which costs £25 for an adult and £5 for a spectator with children aged eight to 12 going free of charge. The meet and greet experience costs £5 for an adult, and £5 for a child aged 10 or over.
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