Happy New Year to all our visitors, friends and readers! The staff have now returned from their well-deserved Christmas break, and the farm has kicked back into action.

There was one particularly exciting festive delivery over the Christmas holiday, as our three sows gave birth to piglets – seventeen of them! The sows arrived at Butser last summer and are a mixture of two breeds: two are Saddlebacks and came from Manor Farm in Bursledon, and one Oxford Sandy & Black was sent over from Bedales School in Petersfield. The piglets are a mixture of the two breeds and consequently some have spots while others have stripes.

They are currently sleeping inside their shelter (known as ‘Pig Palace’) under a heat lamp, but over the next few weeks they will start coming out into the open, playing in the mud, and meeting schoolchildren and members of the public. Towards the end of February, most of the piglets will be available to buy as wieners – if anyone would like to purchase one, please get in touch for more details. Scroll down for a video!

The farm and visitor centre are now open to visitors every weekday from 10am-4pm.

Would you like to work at Butser Ancient Farm? We’re hiring!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CAzPAJT6Xc