Frozen treats and haircuts for hot farm animals

A farm attraction in Nottinghamshire is taking extra precautions to keep its animals cool during the hot weather.

Manor Farm Park and Woodland in East Leake has more than 200 animals including alpacas, donkeys, llamas, pigs, rhea, sheep and wallabies.

Staff freeze their normal food to provide "iced lolly" snacks, give some animals a summer haircut and provide bottles of frozen water to rest against.

Manager Barbara Bird said some common sense measures also apply to household pets, like giving them somewhere cool to shelter and not taking them out during the hottest part of the day.

The farm has about 20 different types of animals kept in 85 acres of farmland.

Ms Bird said some animals needed special attention - and that means planning ahead.

"Anything with a thick coat, like sheep or alpacas, we shear around Easter so they are ready for the summer," she said.

"We also rotate them through the paddocks so when it's a hot day we put them in one with lots of shade," she said.

Inspections look at whether barns are at the right temperature, and ensure the animals are not showing signs of distress.

Ms Bird said: "We don't run activities, like animal walks, if it gets really hot.

"We keep an eye out for danger signs any animals are struggling.

"This is things like lying down, panting and general lethargy - just like us really!"

The smaller animals are provided with soft drink bottles of water which have been frozen.

Ms Bird said: "This means they can lie against it and be more comfortable at night.

"It's kind of the opposite of a hot water bottle - I might try that myself!"

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