We, John and Shelagh Prescott and our daughter Nicky, live at West End Farm which is situated in the small Northumbrian village of Longhorsley about 50 miles south of the Scottish border. On our 60 acre holding, along with our prize-winning Wensleydale Sheep, we also run a small herd of suckler cattle and a flock of North Ronaldsay sheep. We keep and breed more exotic animals - llamas and wallabies, emus and rheas, pheasants and ducks, poultry and fan-tail pigeons, some goats and a pig. Living in relative harmony with all these is Gloria, a very large Arabian-cross camel, who is a local favourite and gets a mention in the tourist guides.

John and our son, Sam, (who also lives in the village) are veterinary surgeons running a practice in nearby Morpeth. As well as treating local farm and domestic animals, John sees a great variety of reptiles and birds from a large catchment area and Sam has an extensive knowledge of the treatment of llamas. Keeping stock helps in treating it - and vice versa!