Description:On a sunny July afternoon, Honeysuckle, Primrose and Rosehip, three young Tamworth pigs are pictured in the southern compartment of the walled garden at Shugborough. In this scene all three are enjoying themselves wallowing in one of their water tanks.
Over the years pigs have often been used for clearing and soil turning for historic and modern farming and gardening projects which also encourages their natural foraging actions. Tamworths are one of the oldest breeds of pig in England, taking their name from the Staffordshire town. Hardy and slow growing they have been successfully exported to America, Canada and some tropical climates.
Comment from Bob Metcalfe, who was a volunteer at the Park Farm and later in the gardens on the Shugborough Estate, “When the late Earl, Patrick, 5th Earl of Lichfield, was in residence at Shugborough Hall, he would often visit Park Farm and ask if there were any Tamworths for him to see. Also, on several occasions he sent his visitors for a morning walk across the Park to view the Tamworths at Park Farm”.
In the 1960s, Shugborough was given by the Treasury to the National Trust in lieu of death duties. Today the house and estate are open to the public.