EWE better believe it! Lambing season has officially kicked off down at Marsh Farm.

The arrival of seven little lambs over the past five days – including a rare set of triplets – has signified the start of a busy time for workers at the South Woodham Ferrers attraction.

Farm managers are expecting more than 500 lambs to make an appearance from now until Easter, and they are hoping the cuteness factor will get families flocking to the farm over half term next week. The farm, in Marsh Farm Road, currently has 260 pregnant female sheep, known as ewes, so workers have their work cut out.

Karen Latham, visitor services manager at Marsh Farm, said: “We’re really pleased to see our newborn lambs have started to arrive. Lambing season is always a very busy, but lovely time. Sometimes we get to cuddle the lambs and occasionally bottle feed them if their mother rejects them.

“Ewes can have anything from two to five lambs, though the average is two. The other day we had triplets, which was quite unusual.

“Unfortunately, we are expecting so many lambs this season that we can’t give them individual names. Once we even had five by the same mother!”

There are about 400 ewes living at the farm, and only about nine rams.

Karen said the sheep may be a minority, but they don’t seem to mind. She said: “There aren’t many of them but they tend to have a good time!”

The farm has organised a series of lamb-themed events over half term.

A Night Watch event on February 25, where visitors can join the farm’s shepherd and help birth the lambs themselves, has already sold out, but there will be an identical event on Thursday, March 8.

Karen added “There will also be an opportunity for visitors to help bottle feed the new-born lambs as part of an after school special offer we are holding.

“This will take place every weekday during February and March, between 3.30pm and 5pm and costs £2 per person.” Go to www.marshfarm.co.uk