Flatlands Alpacas education centre in Crowland open for craft workshops and teaches animal management to Stamford and Peterborough college students

An education centre has been created at an alpaca farm to provide learning opportunities and workshops for students and visitors.

Louise Holland has repurposed a cabin at her Flatlands Alpacas farm in Crowland to be used as a meeting venue and craft sessions teaching how to spin and weave natural fleece.

Students from animal care departments at Stamford and Peterborough colleges have taken part in work experience which will help with their syllabus.

Louise said: “I have spoken to a lot of other people working with alpacas.

“The bubble has burst with experiences - this is another route business-wise so that we are not just relying on visits to see the alpacas.

“The cabin was finished in July and we have been using it for workshops - I enjoy teaching people how to weave on a peg loom to make rugs.”

Nine South American alpacas live at the farm, along with sheep, a goat, horse and poultry and people can book picnics and afternoon teas at the site.

On their visit the students, who are studying animal management, got the opportunity to work with larger animals in a farm setting.

Louise said: “They were shown how to clip the toenails of goats.

“I talk to them about the business side of things, ethics and sustainability.”

“They also learnt about the medical needs of alpacas, how they are managed and how to care for them.”

Now that the cabin has been renovated it can be hired as a meeting venue and for craft sessions where Louise and her mum teach ‘budding’ crafters how to use alpaca fleece for spinning and weaving.

She said: “We talk to them about ways we can use the natural fleece.

“Spinning wheels are expensive so it means they can have a go before buying one.

“We also have a knitter-natter group who come along and also get to see the alpacas.”

Louise is also grateful that she will be gifted a stable from the college and continue to make the farm accessible for learning.

She said: “People really like the workshops and the crafters will come back.

“They enjoy working with natural sheep fleece and how it goes from the animal to become an item.

“I try not to charge too much to make it accessible for people.”

Further information about Flatlands Alpacas can be found on the website https://flatlandsalpacas.co.uk/about/

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