South Cumbria farming family jumps for joy after new arrivals

James Airey, a well-known councillor and Urswick farmer, is celebrating his success after lambing almost 40 newborns last month.

His flock of pedigree Suffolk lambs is Cllr Airey's pride and joy and has been breeding these particular sheep for more than 30 years.

He said: "It's a special breed and very popular. Suffolks are a traditional British breed and very popular to breeders.

"It's the end product. They're very fast growing so you get a good weighty carcass very early in the year."

The Airey family takes its farming duties very seriously and derive huge amounts of satisfaction from its success. 

Cllr Airey explained: "We wouldn't do it if we didn't like it. There's a lot of pleasure to be had.

"We enjoy lambing and we enjoy taking them round all the agricultural shows in the summer as well.

"And it's great if we can win some of the shows as well as that helps when we sell them."

Aside from the business benefits, the Aireys' farming exploits also  provide a great amount of pleasure for the family.

Cllr Airey said: "There's always pleasure in seeing a good lamb born and if the sun shines it's nice to see them skipping around the fields.

"You can tell a good lamb as soon as it's born and it's good watching it progress right through the year."

A true family affair, the whole family gets hands-on through the lambing season, enabling Cllr Airey to balance his farm life with his political obligations. 

He said: "It can be difficult at times but because we lambed them over Christmas and into early January I got some time away. 

"And I've got Caroline and Owen who are more than capable. It's a family thing."

Owen has already developed a flair for farming and is eager to embrace the family hobby. He has travelled to Ireland to source the Aireys' prized sheep. 

Cllr Airey said: "It's just like any other hobby. If you play golf and you get a hole in one you get that same sense of pleasure. 

"It's like hunting for the holy grail of lambs."