Further to my last blog about my Visit to a working sheep farm in the heart of the North York Moors National Park, I have finally found the time to edit up the rest of the images from that day. My full collection can be seen on Facebook here, but I have selected some of the better ones to display here in my blog.

When Jack Hallam originally invited me to the farm of his parents at Egton Bridge, he told me I would be expected to cover his full shift of work which would start at 3am and finish the following evening at roughly 6pm.

Thats one hell of a working day by anyones standards, I managed to negotiate a more rational start time of 10am for myself, even then I was late, by roughly an hour. These farms are so hard to locate you know, even when you have been there several times before its difficult to find your way through The North York Moors.

When I arrived Jack was really busy, you could hear the sound of a quad across the farm and Jack was busy transporting lambs and their mothers out into the fields.

Apparently it has been a very difficult spring for farmers right across The National Park, the extremely wet winter, “One of the wettest in living memory” at the farm, coupled with extreme changes in temperature meant the majority of lambing has to be done inside in the warm and sheltered barns.

Once the lambs have grown a little they are then transported out into the outlining fields. This job is also difficult and time consuming as the fields are so wet the only safe way to access them is by quad. Jack and his brother Joey Essex were flat out transporting the lambs out for most of the day. Only stopping for lunch and to show affection to each other in a full on brotherly mud fight.

Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park (1 of 1)-10

Lambing Time – North York Moors National Park

 

Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park. Jack's younger brother Joey essex introducing the farms new borns to their new home.

Lambing Time – North York Moors National Park. Jack’s younger brother Jamie AKA Joey Essex introducing the farms new borns to their new home.

Later in the day Jacks Girlfriend Becky arrived and also leant a hand. This really is an event for the whole family. All working hard to make sure the lambs are born safely and then transported out into the fields.

Clearly becky was not frightened to get mucked in and she seems to have fit right into the family here. Her cakes are legendary in The Esk Valley and even a small slice of her chocolate orange cake left me feeling like I needed to lie down for the afternoon. Having only just arrived before half an hour before lunch time I felt that would be a step to far so it was an afternoon of photographs.

New Life, The Whole Family Help Out At Lambing Time. Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park

New Life, The Whole Family Help Out At Lambing Time. Lambing Time – North York Moors National Park

 

Lambing Time - Sheep Farming In The North York Moors National Park

Lambing Time – Sheep Farming In The North York Moors National Park

 

Lambing Time - Sheep Farming In The North York Moors National Park

Lambing Time – Sheep Farming In The North York Moors National Park

Jamie Hallam Hard At Work - Lambing Time - Sheep Farming In The North York Moors National Park Jamie

Jamie Hallam Hard At Work – Lambing Time – Sheep Farming In The North York Moors National Park Jamie

Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park The Farms Sheep Dog Really Likes To Pose For The Camera.

Lambing Time – North York Moors National Park

Just spending half a day on the farm really tired me out, I can only imagine how tired The Hallam’s feel at this time of year, with no rest until the very last lamb is born.

My Day was spent riding out on the quads and then coming back to the farm. On each return something new was happening, New lambs being born all the time, pens being cleaned out and disinfected to keep the stock healthy.

Jacks mum working away to get the farms new automated lamb feeder working. It really is non stop, Farmers earn every penny they make, but what an amazing place to work, the farm is set in some of the areas most stunning countryside and barely a road for miles.

Jack And Becky Introduce More New Life To The World. Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park (1 of 1)-13

Jack And Becky Introduce More New Life To The World. Lambing Time – North York Moors National Park

Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park (1 of 1)-12

My Day at the farm finished around 6pm. I drove back through The National Park and spotted a Sparrow Hawk, A Buzzard and a squirrel leaving his nest on my way off the farm. This place is a photographers dream and Im so lucky to be invited onto the farm.

The rest of my day was spent editing images from the weeks earlier shoot for Barbour Clothing. Also shot on a working sheep farm on Wednesday. Hopefully ill be able to share those pictures with you soon.

I guess no blog about Lambing would be complete without at least some pictures of the white cuddly type lambs every identifies with. heres just a selection for your enjoyment.

Lambs In The Esk Valley - Photobombed By A Pheasant

Lambs In The Esk Valley – Photobombed By A Pheasant

Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park (1 of 1)-14

Lambing Time - North York Moors National Park (1 of 1)-14

Further Reading – Links To Related Blogs And Photography On Social Media.