About Us

A Little Piece Of Peru In The Cambridgeshire Fens

Queenholme Alpacas was established in April 2018 on our family run arable farm, nestled in the furthest corner of the bustling village of Willingham.
Located on the outskirts of the University City of Cambridge, the farm is a peaceful retreat within the fenland countryside and is situated beside the Old West River, the lowest point of the River Great Ouse.

Queenholme Farm has been home to the Gilbert family for three generations and consists of 750 acres of arable land, growing crops including wheat, linseed, oats and canary seed. The farm pays great attention to sustainable farming practices, woodland management and conservation projects to help the wildlife.

We established our alpaca herd with a handful of breeding females with friendly characters and quality genetics, and we are now working hard to improve the herd by careful selection of stud males.

We feel very fortunate to own these wonderful, curious and gentle animals, and we look forward to offering more alpaca experiences in 2023 and beyond!

A little bit about me….
I have always loved animals, and from the age of 4, I was riding horses and planning my career as a veterinary surgeon! My teenage years were spent mostly with my horse, Bobby, as well as hand-rearing hedgehogs at home and looking after my menagerie of pets.
I attended the College of West Anglia in Cambridge in 2001, achieving a National Diploma in Applied Sciences and Animal Management. I went on to co-manage a large pet store in Cambridge, completing a certificate in Pet Store Management and canine nutrition. I also have experience working in small animal veterinary practice.
In 2019, I completed my Open College Network Level 2 CEVAS (Countryside Educational Accredited Scheme) and am now fully accredited for educational and therapeutic farm visits.
In 2022, I gave a talk and alpaca handling session to vet students at the Queen’s Veterinary School, Cambridge, taking along four of my own animals for the students to meet.
In 2023, I gained a qualification (CACHE Level 2) in Understanding Autism and also became a Farm Educator Member of LEAF (Linking Education And Farming)
I have three years of experience of giving educational talks to the public, which also includes alpaca handling. Since October 2020, I have worked alongside several different schools, offering therapeutic activities and outdoor learning to students with additional learning needs and mental health conditions.
I am now working towards a diploma in Animal Assisted Therapy. Watch this space!