Bates Farm sisters' successful lambing season after losing father

Fiona and Alison Wilshaw have spent the past few weeks lambing their ewes, opening the Risley farm up to the public each weekend.

In October last year, the sisters grew and sold pink pumpkins on the farm’s pumpkin patch in aid of Cancer Research in support of their dad Michael, raising £10,644.29.

He was first diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago and he passed away in October.

Having grown up on the farm, Fiona took over the running of the family farm at the age of 24 supported by Alison and other friends and family.

Alison said: “We’ve always lived on the farm so don’t really know any different!

“Even from a young age, we were roped into work and always got stuck in while being encouraged to do what we enjoy.

“We both went off to university – I went to Durham and Fiona went to Harper Adam’s.

“Our first graduate jobs were off the farm – I worked in London for a marketing agency for three years and Fiona worked for an agricultural genetics company before returning home in December 2022.”

Lambing season has been open to the public and see more than 1,000 visitors to the farm (Image: Kaptured by Lindsey)

This is the fourth year that Bates Farm was open to the public during lambing season and the first that Fiona and Alison have completed without Michael’s guidance.

Fiona, aged 25, said: “We’ve been lambing for four weeks and lambed 90 ewes so we’re well underway and have just ten more to lamb.

“We’ve had lots of twins, which is ideal as each ewe can feed two lambs so hopefully not too many will need to be bottle fed.

“We lost dad in October so we’ve been running the farm for a few months without his advice.

“Even when he was poorly, he used to give us lots of instructions and always had his calculator in his hand manning the fort however he could.

“It’s a huge gap that we’ve had to fill – navigating our way without dad’s guidance.

“Fortunately, many of dad’s friends are very involved in the farm and they’ve given us pointers about what we need to do.”

The lambing team at Bates Farm (Image: Kaptured by Lindsey)

As well as sheep, Bates Farm has around 300 beef cattle, pigs, turkeys and crops to look after each as well as opening the doors to the public for lambing and pumpkin picking during Halloween.

Alison, who is 26, said: “Fiona looks after the farming side of things – lambing the ewes and making sure that everything is going well from an agricultural perspective and I head up the events in terms of marketing and social media.

“It’s obviously been a difficult transition for the family and team here at Bates Farm.

“The farm was dad’s identity and he lived for it.

“Fiona has done a great job stepping up to farm manager and we’ve been so lucky to have support from our friends, family in the farming community and beyond.

“We’re able to make more decisions ourselves and are starting to make changes – tidying up the farm – the events are getting bigger and we’re able to put our own stamp on things.”

Lambing season started on February 23 with Bates Farm opening to the public each weekend in March, welcoming more than 1,000 people through the gates.

Alison said: “We’ve just ten ewes to go – they tend to drag their feet at the end but we’ve done well to have the ewes lamb in a tighter block than usual.

“Most of the ewes have had two lambs which is ideal as they can both feed from their mum as each ewe has two teats.

“All the lambs are healthy and growing strong and we’ve put some out to grass, which is always a sign that spring is coming.

“We completely sold out for the weekends we opened the farm up to the public and we’ve had some fantastic feedback.

“People love getting a glimpse of farm life and seeing an insight into lambing season on a real working farm - something that they would not normally have access to.”

Farmer Fiona Wilshaw (Image Kaptured by Lindsey (Image: Kaptured by Lindsey)

Fiona said: “I’m only 25 – there aren’t many farmers who are making all the decisions at this age.

“Usually you’d have support within the family so it’s a big change for us all.

“It’s going well so far and we’re all pulling together.

“We’re a friendly team here at the farm and everyone who works here is always happy to answer any questions.

“We’ve loved lambing season but we’ll be very glad to have a rest and get back to some farming.

“Our next job is to plant the pumpkin seeds and we’ll be back open to the public in October for pumpkin picking and farm tours.”

HS 20 Mar 2024 Bates Farm sisters Alison and Fiona Wilshaw at Bates Farm (Image: Kaptured by Lindsey)