Amberley Museum is hosting the ‘Shepherd of the Downs’ trail this easter and is perfect for all the family to explore the Sussex downland tradition of sheep-rearing. The trail is open on the following dates:

• Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of April
• Wednesday the 5th to Sunday the 9th of April
• Wednesday the 12th to Sunday the 16th of April

As one of the oldest breeds in the UK, the Southdown Sheep originated from the native sheep whose home was the South Downs in the South of England for hundreds of years. The breed is very popular and can now be found in many countries around the world due to the high quality of lamb it is recognised as a commercially viable breed.

The breed has seen a substantial revival in the UK as new breeders enjoy working with the breed’s easy lambing, docile nature and ease of finishing making it suitable for a range of farming systems across many different locations and climates. Southdown rams are often found working through the UK from Cornwall to Aberdeenshire.

Offering an ideal location to learn more about the role of sheep-rearing in local culture and industry, Amberley Museum is set in the heart of the South Downs and its ‘Shepherds of the Downs’ trail offers a fantastic insight for families this Easter holidays alongside free wool based craft sessions on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The event will also see free bus and train rides across the museum’s site as part of the general admission.

Amberley Museum hosts a massive 20 exhibit areas which feature all kinds of interesting things from vintage vehicles, communications, electrical goods, crafts, nature trails, rides on a narrow-gauge railway and historic buses. The museum will also see visiting miniature steam engines over Easter Weekend on Good Friday on the 7th, Saturday the 8th, Easter Sunday on the 9th and Easter Monday the 10th April.

Anyone travelling to the museum by train can benefit from 2 for 1 on General Admission which can be obtained by presenting a valid voucher which has been downloaded or printed via: https://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/amberley-museum This offer excludes Halloween Evening and Meet Father Christmas as they are add-on events.

First founded in 1978, Amberley Museum is a registered charity and an accredited independent museum and is handily located right next to Amberley railway station and also features major road access. Dogs are welcome on a lead and the Limeburners Café which is on-site serves delicious hot and cold food.

The museum has recently been awarded £433,766 following a successful application to the Museum Estates and Development Fund or MEND which will support the restoration and upgrade of the Bagging Shed area, which has a fascinating history.