Houghton Lodge Alpacas
In 2010, Houghton Lodge introduced three charming Alpacas; Tom, Dick and Harry to the gardens for children to enjoy.
Alpacas have very nice personalities and are safe with children because they don't kick or bite. If they get really annoyed they might stamp their foot but that is all!
Although there are quite a few breeders now in England, Alpacas come from the Andes in South America where they are much prized for their luxurious fleeces, which come in many colours and are extremely soft, warm and hard wearing.
They are very hardy and can stand our coldest winters because their woollen coats are so warm. We shear them at the beginning of Summer so they will not get too hot but we leave them with their topknots so that their heads won't catch the sun.
Alpacas are expensive to buy; champion animals can fetch £50,000 or even more. They only have one baby, called a Cria, a year so it takes time to build up a large herd
You will find them in the field beyond the stream on your left as you go down the lawn to the river.
