Smile! It's the new kids on the block

And it is the first time the stately home estate has invited an audience to watch the lambs being born.

The farm opened its barn doors last Thursday when around 30 people turned up. More sessions took place on Friday and Saturday. Guests have been invited to get involved with a range of activities including a night time bottle feed and checking over the sheep.

There was also a mother and baby unit where visitors met the new mums and a live video feed was provided from the tearoom, so visitors could stay warmth and watch the action.

Corinne Caddy, deputy manager of the estate, said: "We had four Shropshire sheep babies born on the first night. We had two in the first hour. They are all a rare breed. Shropshire sheep have been kept on the estate for 200 years. We also had rare breed talks and chick handling. It was really successful. It's something we do every year as staff. We all get very tired but it is a privilege to watch.

"The farm is quite magical at night."

Around 100 people were expected to visit all three live lambing events.

Ms Caddy added: "We've had an amazing reaction. People were so delighted. Because there were small groups of people it was easier to talk to everyone about our rare breeds."

This year the estate expects to see a baby boom as more than 100 lambs and goat kids from a number of various different breeds are due from now until mid April.

The first set of rare lambs to be born at the Shugborough Hall estate this year were welcomed into the world last month.

The Southdown twin lambs were born at 6.30am on February 24, followed by a third shortly after at 8.30am.

Southdown Sheep are an historic breed and have also been on the grounds of the Shugborough for over 200 years.

The first two twins were called Southdown Larry and Southdown Loretta.

The farm has also been expecting a flock of the critically endangered Bagot goat kids – a breed which is even rarer than the Giant panda.

Eleven of the 16 sheep currently on the estate are known for having the purest genetics in the world.

Bagot goats, which are native to Staffordshire, were brought to the UK after Richard the Lionheart took them back from the Crusades in the Middle East according to legend.

King Richard II is thought to have later given one of the goats to Sir John Bagot, of Blithfield Hall, Rugeley.