Set in 850 acres of parkland, Margam Country Park offers natural beauty, history, wildlife and a wide range of activities, facilities and events for all the family. The Green Flag-awarded park is one of the most popular attractions in Neath Port Talbot and is particularly well-known for its winter light trail "Luminate" and for being home to Welsh pigs, peacocks, pygmy goats, Glamorgan cattle, donkeys and a Shetland pony - and now it has welcomed baby alpacas!
Two cria (infant alpacas) have become the first of their kind to enter the historic grounds of Margam Country Park - with a third cria set to join them very soon - and visitors to the Park will now be able to see them.
The cria have come from Penrhallt Farm on the north coast of Gower alongside their mothers and auntie, who will stay with them for a few months to allow the babies to settle-in to their new home at Margam before the adults return to Penrhallt Farm later this year.
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Confirming the alpacas' arrival, a statement from Neath Port Talbot Council explained: "Margam Country Park’s Farm Trail has had a very special delivery, just in time for the summer holidays. Two baby alpacas, also known as "cria," will be the first of their kind to enter the historic grounds of Margam Country Park. An alpaca enclosure has been prepared on the Farm Trail and the park's estates team has received full training in preparation for the arrival. Want the latest Neath Port Talbot news straight to your inbox? We send our email subscribers a newsletter twice per week with the latest news from the region. Sign up here.
"The alpacas have come from Penrhallt Farm on the north coast of Gower. The family-run farm has agreed to loan the alpaca mothers and also an auntie for a few months, in order to allow for a smooth and caring transition for the babies. The three adult alpacas will later return to Penrhallt Farm towards the end of the year, once the young have settled into their new home. During this time a third baby alpaca will join the herd.
"Alpacas are quiet and calming animals, with a gentle nature and kind personality. They have a strong herding instinct, so it's essential they live with at least two other alpacas. Their fleece is hypo-allergenic and much softer than sheep wool."
A spokesperson for Margam Country Park confirmed that the adult alpacas are named Echo, Clover and Roxy but said the cria do not have names yet. The Park will be running a competition via social media to invite members of the public to name the cria - you can follow the competition, which is set to launch on Friday, Juily 29, on the Park's Facebook page here.
After receiving suggestions for names, staff will form a shortlist of possible names and then pull names out of a hat on a Facebook Live livestream on Friday, August 12.
Visiting Margam Country Park
Margam Country Park is a beautiful park in Margam, Neath Port Talbot which has a 19th century Grade-I listed Tudor Gothic castle, an 18th century orangery, a historic turbine house, a Discovery Centre, a Go Ape! adventure experience with zip-wires and Tarzan swings - and around 850 acres of parkland with nature trails, sculptures and wildlife.
A herd of deer roam freely through 500 acres of the parkland and there's also a farm trail with Glamorgan cattle, Llanwenog and Badger Face sheep, Welsh pigs, Buff Orpington hens - and, now, alpacas!
Entry to the park is free but parking charges apply (£6.80 per car). Pre booking is required for Bank Holidays, otherwise the Park is open to the public 10am to 6pm each day. Visit the Park's website for more information.
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