ANIMALS and staff at Tatton Park in Knutsford are celebrating after their farm was awarded Rare Breeds accreditation by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) - a leading conservation charity working to restore Britain's native livestock breeds.

Home Farm is one of only 17 farm parks in the UK to have received the award, which recognises its commitment to the conservation, breeding and promotion of rare or endangered breeds of farm animals.

Farm co-ordinator Jayne Chapman said: "We are delighted to have been recognised by the RBST and worked extremely hard to gain accreditation.

"We had to meet various criteria, involving not only the livestock, but the standards of the premises, the knowledge of the staff and detailed examination of pedigree records, movement information and health requirements."

Tatton Home Farm, which sits at the heart of the historic estate in Cheshire, now has to sustain two viable breeding units as part of its commitment to Rare Breeds and has chosen to concentrate on Tamworth pigs and Red Poll cattle.

At present, the farm has two breeding Tamworth's - Tallulah and Tanya - both of whom are vying with each other to be top breeding pig, and the farm aims to have four purebred litters a year.

The six breeding cows in the Red Poll breed will help to sustain what is considered one of the original native dual purpose breeds due to its dairy and beef qualities.