A LIVE audience witnessed the very start of a cycle of life as a lamb was born before their eyes.

The privilege was courtesy of the first of this year’s lambing weekends at the Earth Trust farm in Little Wittenham.

Each spring thousands of visitors relish the rare chance to get up close to sheep, goats and pigs at the charity’s base.

This Saturday and Sunday is the last of the lambing events, and families are invited to stop by to learn about the animals.

Naomi Douglas, head of communications at the environmental charity, said: “It’s a chance for people to get up close to the animals and meet farmers and shepherdess.

“Last Saturday we had a live birth and they loved watching.

“Generally that happens and it’s really exciting, but we can’t guarantee it will happen during opening hours.”

On Sunday the lambing event was cancelled, however, due to heavy snow which caused disruption across the county.

Miss Douglas said: “Last year we had more than 8,000 visitors over the two [lambing] weekends, which obviously won’t be the case this time.

“On Saturday is was so cold and the weather was so awful on Sunday that we had to close.

“For people who didn’t get to come, the weather is looking better this weekend.”

Members of the public can stop by at the environmental organisation’s visitor centre most days, but normally are not allowed into the farming area.

Animals on the farm are looked after by a shepherdess Emma Blomfield and tenant farmers from Farm Step, an initiative of the charity promoting sustainable land management.

Miss Douglas said: “Ultimately we are a farm and this is a good opportunity for us to open the door and for people to get behind the scenes.

“There is a real disconnect in our society with food and where it comes from, so this is also about connecting people with that farm to fork journey.”

She said the lambing weekends are also a chance to raise awareness of the charity’s work, tending to 500 hectares of land including Wittenham Clumps and nature reserves.

Miss Douglas added: “It’s freely accessible to the general public and we protect it.”

She said that was ‘especially important’ due to the loss of green space in Oxfordshire, due to development.

This year there have been a few tweaks to ensure audiences have the best experience.

Miss Douglas said: “We have audio-visual equipment for tenants and farmers so people can hear them better, which will help when it gets busy.”

Both lambing days run from 10am-4pm, and entry costs £8 for adults or £5 for children.

There will also be a barbecue and activities including hay bale climbing and tractor rides.

Bookings are taken online via earthtrust.org.uk, but people are welcome to just turn up.