TALES FROM JIMMY'S FARM by Jimmy Doherty, read by Jimmy Doherty and Joshua Riley - audiobook extract

An insight into the life of a farmer turned zookeeper, following the ups and downs through the seasons with Jimmy and the animals at his wildlife park in Suffolk. Jimmy's Farm turns 20 years old in 2022. From starting out with rare breed pigs and a farm shop, Jimmy and his wife, Michaela, have grown the business over the years and the farm is now licensed to operate as a wildlife park. Tales from Jimmy's Farm follows a year in the life of the farm. The narrative traces the seasons as Jimmy documents what it means to live on a farm and what each day holds for him, his wife and four young daughters, the land he is farming and the animals in his care. The farm began life with rare breed pigs, but Jimmy soon expanded this to goats, cows, sheep and Suffolk Punch horses, too, and now the wildlife park plays host to over 80 species and breeds of traditional, rare and exotic animals, from crocodiles, camels and tapirs to skunks, wallabies and raccoons. Visitors can also learn about butterflies and insects in the Butterfly House, and meet reptiles and birds in the Tropical House. The listener will be transported into the landscape, learn of the practical day-to-day jobs, and fall in love with the animals through stories of where they came from, how they arrived and settled in, and funny anecdotes as Jimmy and his team got to know them. Along with a whole host of other characters, Jimmy will introduce you to: Teddy and Tip Tap, a pair of tapirs Alice and Arthur, the Mongolian Bactrian camels Basil, the giant anteater Dolph, Mistletoe and Rowan, the resident reindeers