Merrist Wood College’s Fleecy Frolics event took place n Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23.

Merrist Wood College reports that the weather didn’t dampen the fun at last weekend’s Fleecy Frolics lambing event.

Pictured in the lambing unit, from left: Grace, Ella and Rose.

Hundreds of families flocked to the 400-acre site in Worplesdon over the two-day event to see this season’s new additions at the college’s farm.

Shearing in the lambing unit.

Guests witnessed sheep shearing demonstrations and also got to stroke farm animals on show – who were all very happy to be greeted if there was a handful of food in it for them!

John, Jude, and Marianna enjoy the lambing unit at Fleecy Frolics.

The college’s, annual public lambing event is a celebration of nature and countryside crafts. 

Jack climbs a tree with the help of the arboriculture team at Merrist Wood College.

As well as plentiful amounts of stalls selling all kinds of local artisan products and produce, this year’s visitors were able to experience a range of activities such as tractor rides, tree climbing, face painting, pony rides, countryside craft activities, and horse drawn trailer rides.

The choir, Motivation by Music, performed a set on Saturday afternoon and the college’s meerkat colony were also very interested to watch the goings on from their enclosure in the walled garden.

Jack holds a snake in the Animal Management Centre.

Visitors could also interact with some of the college’s other residents in its Animal Management Centre, including rabbits, snakes, leopard geckos, bearded dragons, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, fancy mice and hamsters – as well as being able to tour the tropical and desert biomes within the centre where the unit’s giant tortoises, tropical birds and marmosets to name just a few were on display. 

Students from Merrist Wood College’s LGBTQ+ society raise awareness and raise funds at Fleecy Frolics.

The commercial director at Merrist Wood College, Laura Asbridge, said: “Fleecy Frolics is an excellent showcase of what our fantastic college has to offer, as well as providing an invaluable experience for our student helpers, who were, as always, a credit to the college. 

Rafa makes friends with the goats at Fleecy Frolics.

“A huge amount of work behind the scenes takes place for this event to happen, and so I must thank our incredible team here at Merrist Wood for all their hard work in creating such a fantastic weekend.

“Merrist Wood is an intrinsic part of the local community and it’s great to be able to welcome the public on to the campus to see all the amazing things we have here.”

The lambing unit at Merrist Wood College.