BBC HomeExplore the BBC
Just to let you know, we're no longer updating this site. More information here

14 July 2009
Accessibility help
Text only
suffolksuffolk
PLANET SUFFOLK

BBC Homepage
England
»Suffolk
News
Sport
Weather
Travel News

Entertainment
Features
In Pictures
Faith
Video Nation
Nature

Saving Planet Earth
How We Built Britain

Radio Suffolk

Site Contents 

Contact Us

Like this page?
Send it to a friend!

 

Monday 14th April 14:15 BST
Suffolk Punch filly
Poppy
Poppy - born on Mothering Sunday



This is Poppy. She is just two weeks old and a very special Suffolk Punch foal.
SEE ALSO

Planet Suffolk


Video Suffolk : Saving the Suffolks

WEB LINKS
Suffolk Horse Society
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.
PRINT THIS PAGE
View a printable version of this page.
get in contact
Farmer Tom Walne and his partner Sandy are over the moon. Their Suffolk Punch mare, Gertie, gave birth to a filly foal on Sunday 30th March.

Tom and Sandy had stayed up with Gertie for two nights waiting for the grand event. The foal eventually arrived at 5am on Mothering Sunday morning and was suckling within three quarters of an hour.

Farmer Tom Walne and Poppy
Farmer Tom Walne with Poppy

The fact that the foal is a filly is very special because the Suffolk Punch horse is endangered - there are only around 80 breeding mares in a total population of 400.

Sandy and Poppy
Sandy and Poppy

They have decided to name the foal Poppy, after Tom's Dad, and in keeping with the floral name of Poppy's two-year-old sister, Daisy.

Gertie, Farmer Tom Walne, Fred and Lesley Dolphin
Gertie, Farmer Tom Walne, Fred and Lesley Dolphin

Tom and Sandy have made sure she is used to people and she is already wearing a halter. Her first public outing will be to the South Suffolk Show at Ampton Racecourse on Sunday 11th May and then the Suffolk Show on Wednesday and Thursday 28th/29th May 2003 at the Suffolk Showground.

Gertie and Poppy
Gertie and Poppy

Tom had his first Suffolk Punch horse over 20 years ago and has been passionate about them ever since.

When the Queen visited Bury St Edmunds during her Jubilee tour she met Tom and Gertie and Prince Phillip showed great interest, going back to chat to them again later.

Poppy with Lesley Dolphin
Poppy with Lesley Dolphin

BBC Radio Suffolk's Lesley Dolphin will be following the progress of Poppy on her Sunday morning breakfast programme and taking photographs too - so watch Poppy grow here online!

Poppy meets the farrier »

 
comments
 

e.g. Tom, Ipswich
Very interesting thanks. I am a believer of ghosts, however it is clear that the pic of the wall and mysterious white shape on the right is clearly. Its obviouos to me this is fabric. I find it hard to imagine that u people cannot see this.

Phil Bungay
Most if not all ghost walks are a joke. I have been on some and as always, somewhere along the line something fake happens. I have had the experience of seeing a real ghost in my house.

Darren, Ipswich
The 'strange' item on the Priory wall photograph looks like a very spooky camera strap that has fallen in front of the lens and been overexposed by the amount of light falling on it from the flash...

Chris, Cambridge
Just how rare are great crested newts - every road construction project seems to find a colony!

Oskar, U.S.A.
I'm glad you are protecting amphibians. Most people have only heard of these newts in the pet trade.

amy, framlingham
I visited christchurch mansion yesterday, it is gorgeous inside but i could sense a spooky atmosphere!

Karen, Southminster
I would Just like to congratulate you all!For me, the re-establishment of any rare breed of animal is important, but that you have managed it with this absolutely gorgeous looking and natured, amazingly rare breed of horse is doubly so!Well done!!!

Linda. Wickham Market
I think these pictures are stunning and very varied. I hope we see a lot more of her work.

gemma ,harrow
i congratulate you and wish you well in the repopulation of one of britians best breeds

carol davies west midlands
i would like to thank you people for what you are doing if there is any thing i can do to help please let me know i am 60 years of age but i will help has much has i can GOD BLESS YOU ALL

hannah frany
arh cute cute cute

peasenhall
i have ghost pic of child very clear at the old smyth seeddrill site

  line
 
  we want to hear from you

name and location:
 
comments:
 
 
Disclaimer: The BBC will post as many of your comments as possible but we cannot guarantee that all messages received will be published. The BBC reserves the right to edit those comments that are published.
 
 
More from this section


nature
Tokely's gardening tips

RSPB Events


Diary Antarctica


win! win! win!

Contact Us

BBC Suffolk Website
Broadcasting House
St Matthew's Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 3EP

(+44) 01473 250000
suffolk@bbc.co.uk




About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy