Pooh Sticks World Championships & Lambing

This morning, hundreds of people converged on the tiny village of Little Wittenham. They came on foot and by car, by tractor, bike and even horse to compete in the Pooh Sticks World Championships. It was a fantastic example of organised chaos that us Brits do so well. A huge long queue for over an hour to spend ten seconds dropping a stick over the side of a bridge and yet everyone seemed to be having an absolutely lovely time soaking up the sunshine and raising money for the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires.

 After being knocked out in the first round we headed back up the hill to the Earth Trust farm run by Camilla and Roly. This fortnight is the second lambing season of the year and the farm is open to visitors next weekend too from 10-4 on both Saturday and Sunday. A family ticket is £12, details are here.

All the sheep in this pen are expecting twins.

 Ewe Lambs; sheep having their first babies. They are watched more closely by the Shepherds as they've never done it before which can make delivery more problematic. (I know how they feel!)

All in all, an absolutely lovely day out. I did come away very happy and grateful to be a human and not a sheep, content in the knowledge that, at least in my current habitat of Leigh on Sea, I'm at the top of the food chain.  Nothing like a little species appreciation to put a spring in your step.