Harry Tuffins Country Park welcomes first lamb of spring

With ice on the ground and thick fog covering much of the local area, the first of this year’s new spring lambs has been born at Harry Tuffins Country Park in Churchstoke. The strong low lying sun of spring warming the ground has encouraged many animals and plants that spring is really here when it’s not officially due until the 20th March. Roy Delves together with his wife Ruby, daughter of founder Harry Tuffin, have nurtured the park over many years, installing new pools and paddocks to house the growing number of animals the park looks after. Highland cattle, deer, horses, sheep, pigs, doves and a growing population of buffalo can all be found at Harry Tuffins Country Park.

“The park has grown over the years and we continue to take in a number of animals throughout the year.” said Roy. “My wife Ruby is never sure what she’ll find next. “As well as this year’s first lamb, we have a new baby buffalo, piglets, ducklings and rabbits.” Mr Delves stresses the park’s animals are allowed to live in as natural a state as possible, being stroked and petted by visitors if they so wish. “They are all very friendly and will quite happily approach visitors for a stroke. Most of them are just plain nosey.” Totally funded by Roy and Ruby, entrance to the park is free for all visitors and opens daily, with local families from the surrounding community taking regular advantage of the parks many facilities. A children’s play area, walks and of course the endless array of domestic and wild animals continues to change. Said Roy: “We meet so many visitors from both the UK and abroad, who after stopping to refuel, eating in our café or after they’ve finished their weekly shop, go and take a stroll through the park and see the animals.”

Located at Harry Tuffins head office in Churchstoke, the park’s 50 acres encompasses pastureland, pools, and wildfowl and includes a large number of adopted farm and domestic breeds. A family run independent retailer ranked in the top 50 independent retail chain, Harry Tuffins began trading in 1955 offering shops and forecourt petrol stations. Today the company operates 6 shops and petrol stations along the English, Welsh border; Craven Arms, Knighton, Bishops Castle, Ludlow, Cleobury Mortimer and Churchstoke holds one of the longest running successful Sunday markets. Last year’s annual funday, hosted in Harry Tuffins Country Park, raised a staggering £27,000 which was distributed to over 100 schools, churches, small groups and charities with the largest cheque, of £3,000, going to Hope House children’s hospice in Oswestry.

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