NEWS AND UPDATES
TIPPENSWOOD MAKES LOCAL NEWS! Alpaca farm is thriving
SOUTH AMERICA has come to a small part of Binfield which is now home to Berkshire's largest Alpaca breeding herd.
Despite last winter's freezing conditions these hardy members of the camelid family are actually thriving. They are now producing the best quality fibres recorded since Tippens Wood Farm was first opened in 2007.
The proprietors of Tippens Wood Alpaca(TWA), Anila and David Preston, started with only four animals and currently have over 40 Alpacas roaming the fields at their farm north of Bracknell.
Newborn Alpacas are called Cria and births are happening on a daily basis at this time of year. The male and female animals are kept a little distance apart and the grass is trimmed short to mimic the South American Altiplano habitat that is nroamlly indigenous to the Alpaca.
Pride of place in the male enlosure goes to Tommy (a Brown Huacaya) who is the award winning top breeding stud on the farm.
The fibres trimmed from the Alpaca form the basis for an expanding export industry to the Middle East and India.
The grades of fibre do vary but have a low micron count which is better for the finer product (TWA has one of the lowest counts). Also, the lustre and crimp which produce the yarn is used for luxury textiles. Often this fibre was called the 'Gold of the Andes' and is second only to silk for strength.
Local residents have a craft group at TWA once a month and can learn processing, spinning and felting the Alpaca Fibres. Also educational visits for local school will soon be available.
Keen gardeners who are looking to maximise their vegetables and herbaceous borders can also benefit from the waste by-product from these cute animals. The grazing fields are cleared of 'waste' every day, if not, the grass would grow far too well. This lushness does not suit Alpaca's digestive system. Judging by the super sized courgettes grown on the farm it has more than one useful spin off.
Source: BRACKNELL NEWS, Thursday, August 19, 2010, photos and article Chris Forsey page 8The Golden Fleece
The furry star turns of this year's Hurst Horse Show and Country Fair are real prize guys.
Baltimore, Tommy and Sebastien came first, second and third at the British Alpaca Society Show.
That explained the trio's slightly superior air when they returned to their Hurst field after the Nottingham show on May 9. They are owned by Anila and David Preston of Tippens Wood Farm, Wokingham. Anila said: "We've had alpacas for just three years and were competing against breeders with much larger herds and longer experience.
The competition was tough. We were very pleased with out alpacas' prizes. It shows we ahve the husbandry right and that the animals are good quality. They are stud alpacas, so our clients will be impressed. Tommy was praised for his exceptional fleece."
The alpacas plus spinners and weavers using their fleeces will be at Hurst Horse Show and Country Fair on June 26-27. There is also an open day at Tippens Wood Farm on Monday, May 31, 2.30-5.30pm.
Source: READING CHRONICLE, Thursday, May 20, 2010, page 22 photo Mike Swift.
'Best ever' show to welcome new stars
FURRY new stars are expected to attract the crowds for what is predicted to be the best ever Hurst Show and Country Fair.
Visitors to the 31st show have been promised new and exciting attractions during the weekend of countryside fun on June 26 and 27, including the chance to meet alpacas from a farm in Hurst.
Organisers say families can look forward to a low-cost outing kind to stretched budgets - a family of two adults and two children will pay just £8 to attend the show each day.
Once inside, people can meet the alpacas, who are memebers of the camel family and produce soft fleece that will be spun during the show. The alpacas, Tommy, Baltimore and Sebastien, from Tippens Wood Farm won first, second and third prizes in the British Alpaca Society's Nottingham show over the weekend. The team from Tippens Wood in Hurst will be showcasing what makes the animals so special.
Source: WOKINGHAM TIMES, Wednesday, May 12 2010, page 9 by Victoria Corbett.