Meet the Expert: Kyra-Alice Povey
Meet Kyra-Alice Povey, Stockperson at Boscobel House and The Royal Oak, Shropshire.
INTERVIEW MATT HAVERCROFT
PHOTOGRAPHS GARETH IWAN JONES & OLIVER EDWARDS
"My role as stockperson at Boscobel House means I’m responsible for the welfare of the animals living on its Victorian farm. I move animals on and off the premises and liaise with breeders. I’m also in charge of working out our own breeding schedule. I’m really passionate about history and bringing rare breeds back from the brink.
When people say ‘owning animals is a lifestyle and not a hobby’ they could be talking about my life. Caring for and living with animals has always been a passion of mine. I currently own three ferrets, two horses, a donkey, five cats, and a particularly friendly pigeon called Dave.
The animals at Boscobel House have breathed life back into the farm. We have sheep, chickens, ducks and our pigs, Lucie and Charlotte. Each breed we keep on the farm has been chosen carefully to represent the period. Our Ryeland sheep are a wonderful, docile breed that look like teddy bears. Our Tamworth pigs are a fantastic traditional breed, first developed by Sir Robert Peel at his home, Drayton Manor in Tamworth. They grow very slowly and declined in popularity as farmers turned to faster growing breeds. We also keep several types of heritage poultry that would have been found on Victorian farms. A huge part of my job is bringing these incredibly friendly and intelligent creatures back into the public eye.
"Each of the animals we keep here has a purpose-built area to cater for their needs. For our chickens, we have beautiful aviaries they can run and scratch around in, along with houses in which they can lay their eggs and roost. The Call ducks can be seen in their aviary where I have dug out a pond specially for them. Our sheep graze in the fields around the farm, including the field with the Royal Oak. We also have a wonderful pigsty, with a ‘rooting pen’ attached for them to dig up and wallow in. The sty also has a window so you can watch them napping in the hay when they’re not playing with their toys or digging.
Our animals are on constant display to visitors and the farm runs demonstrations, talks and tours throughout the year. This spring I'll be hatching more ducklings and chicks, and even some quail, which will spend the first four weeks of their lives at Boscobel before moving to their permanent home at Kenilworth Castle.
"During the school holidays, I often come out in Stewart attire with Maureen or Betty (the Ryeland sheep) and host 'Meet the Shepherd' where I talk about the history of wool production. This spring, I will be shearing our sheep for the public in costume using traditional bladed shears.
We have a team of fantastic costumed interpreters, who help to bring the wider story of Boscobel to life. As you walk around, you will find QR codes dotted around that you can scan with your phone to watch videos explaining the story of the house.
By making it relatable, accessible and entertaining, we offer visitors a really enjoyable day out, and they leave with a new appreciation for Victorian farm life. Hopefully some of my passion for these fantastic animals will rub off too."
Plan a visit
There's something for everyone on a visit to Boscobel House and The Royal Oak. To find out more, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/boscobel-house-and-the-royal-oak
