An alpaca walking experience has landed in the New Forest.
People can now take a walk on the wild side with the South American mammals in the fields of Burley.
The newly-created Me To You Alpaca Encounter is the brainchild of wife and husband duo Carol and Simon Moore.
Self-professed animal lovers, the pair wanted to incorporate their love of nature and improving mental health into their work.
Carol, 54, said: “We have lived in Burley since 2019. It is lovely here, but there is not a lot going on - so we thought it could do with a new activity.
“We really love animals, and saw some alpacas being walked, and that is when we thought what a great idea it was to have something here.
“In October last year, we adopted three alpacas and we got hands-on experience with them.
“For the first six months, it was them getting used to us and vice versa.
“We then acquired three more alpacas two months ago.”
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Renting a field opposite Burley Manor, Carol and Simon learnt the ropes of alpaca care before launching their business four weeks ago.
Carol is a counsellor by trade and said interacting with alpacas is very beneficial.
She said: "Both Simon and I have been through so much recently with grief.
“I lost my sister and Simon recently lost his mum, and the joy was sucked out of our lives.
“But the alpacas have brought joy back. They are such lovely and calm animals.”
The alpacas – Moses, Marley, Kane, Charlie, Harry, and Jack – are available for walking sessions on Saturdays and meet and greets on Sundays.
Carol added: “The alpacas are such great animals for mental health, so we want to integrate them into that area of care, particularly with the elderly in future.
“So far, lots of people have enquired about the walks and we have had an influx of people on social media.
“We are helping people do something different and spend time outside with nature and animals, which is good for wellbeing.
“We both still work so this is only a weekend activity for now.”
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