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New Leeds Temple Newsam Home Farm arrival is big hit with visitors
The new-born donkey with its mother and Farm Service Officer Shelley Rogerson.
She may be less than two weeks old but one Leeds farm’s eye-catching new arrival is already a proud history maker.
The distinctive all-white foal is the first donkey ever to have been born at Home Farm, which is on the Temple Newsam estate in the east of the city.
Her birth took workers at the estate slightly by surprise, as they had not realised her mother, Maria, was pregnant until she suddenly gained weight about a month ago.
Staff had less trouble guessing the identity of the father, with all hooves pointing at a white donkey stallion called Arthur who stayed on the farm for a spell last year.
Now the team is hoping visitors to the popular attraction can come up with a suitable name for their attention-grabbing newcomer.
Temple Newsam estate manager Maria Akers said: “The foal caught us by surprise a bit but now she is here she is absolutely beautiful and is giving the lambs a real run for their money in the cuteness stakes.
“The fact that she is pure white means she really stands out.
“It would be great for lots of visitors to come up and say ‘hello’ and help us find the perfect name for her.”
Home Farm is open to the public from Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am to 4pm.
For further information, visit the www.leeds.gov.uk/templenewsamhouse web page or ring 0113 264 7321.
l Staff at Home Farm will be hoping the donkey’s birth is a good omen for the rest of 2012.
Fire ripped through a 200-year-old building at the farm last November.
It was the second blaze at the visitor attraction in less than a year.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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