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Leeds farm welcomes five calves from one of the UK’s rarest cattle breeds

Adorable.

Clementine Hall - 1st October 2026

One of the rarest cattle breeds in the UK has had calves at Temple Newsam’s farm.

We think this might be the cutest story we've written about all year.

Categorised as ‘priority’ by the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST), Vaynol cows originate from North Wales and were first established in the late 19^th Century.

The herd over at Temple Newsam stems directly from that first herd, having lived there since the 1980’s.

Images: Leeds City Council

Images: Leeds City Council

And now, they've welcomed five new calves - and the beautiful new arrivals are just five of 150 animals in the UK.

Vaynols can now be found in five locations in the UK, with Temple Newsam’s Home Farm currently home to one bull, 14 breeding cows, five heifers these amazing new calves.

Richard Aldis, farm manager at Temple Newsam, said: “We’re so thrilled to have welcomed these little ones to the farm.

“The team here works hard to protect these rare breeds that the farm is home to and it’s always wonderful when we can successfully grow the herd. The calves are settling in well and we’re just thinking about names for them.”

Councillor James Gibson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment, said: “It’s wonderful to hear the news about these rare little calves being born, it is truly a testament to the important work that is done by the team at Temple Newsam’s Home Farm in preserving these breeds for future generations.

“There is so much for visitors to enjoy at the estate. Alongside the farm and its wonderful animals, people can explore the magnificent Temple Newsam House, enjoy the new bike park, and visit the recently opened play barn. It really is a fantastic day out for the whole family.”

Read more: A beloved Leeds bar is moving after 15 years – but its new home is only three minutes away

Featured image - Leeds City Council

Leeds

The cult sandwich shop that’s been serving Leeds students since 1994

Clementine Hall

Whether you're a student or not, Bakery 164 is a Leeds staple.

And you really can't miss it either.

Standing proudly opposite the Parkinson Steps on the corner of Woodhouse Lane, their bright yellow and red canopy lures you in if the inviting smell of fresh bread hasn't already.

They've been serving the students of Leeds since 1994, and are known for their specialist sandwiches that won't break the bank.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

On a lunchtime you'll have to join the queue of hungry students looking to get their fix, but it's well worth the wait.

The bread is what they do best, every evening they hand mix and hand shape their ciabatta and focaccia dough, which is then baked overnight so it’s fresh out of the ovens in the morning.

Then come the fillings, at Bakery 164 they specialise in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours, using seasonal ingredients and local produce wherever possible.

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Images: The Hoot Leeds

Signature sandwiches include grilled chicken, halloumi and bacon with chilli mayo, prosciutto, mozzarella, pesto and sun-dried tomato as well as meatballs and mozzarella with Reggae Reggae sauce.

A price for a sandwich comes in at around a fiver, and they easily wipe the floor with any meal deal sarnie you can grab from a supermarket round the corner.

Just choose your sandwich, take it to the till and they'll warm it up for you there and then at no extra cost.

And it's not just sandwiches, they've also got fresh coffee on offer to keep you going between lectures as well as a selection of freshly baked cakes and sweet treats.

Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

Government announces all national museums across the UK will remain FREE for everyone to visit

Dozens of national museums across the UK are set to remain free for everyone to visit, it has been confirmed.

Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the 14 national museums of the UK are all located in England – including the Royal Armouries in Leeds – and free entry to was first introduced all the way back in 2001, with millions of visitors having benefitted since.

National museums are said to add more than £1 billion a year to the economy, and bring in visitors from all over the world.

In fact, seven of the UK’s 10 most visited museums are national museums, and 7.1 million people visited the Natural History Museum and 6.4 million visited the British Museum in 2025 alone.

Earlier this year though, the Government committed to working with local leaders and the museum and tourism sectors to explore whether charging overseas visitors could help museums’ finances.

But following this, it’s now believed that charging could deter visitors, and that the impacts and benefits would ‘not be felt equally’ across the sector.

The Government has announced that all national museums in the UK will remain free for everyone to visit / Credit: Science Museum Group

Instead, the free entry will be funded by the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund – which is providing £760 million for museums – while £600 million of infrastructure funding is supporting national museums and DCMS-sponsored cultural organisations.

The latter funding will be used to address critical maintenance and works to estates, and enable institutions to deliver on their commitments to share collections with visitors from around the world.

A further £160 million is coming from The Museum Estates and Development Fund to help museums tackle maintenance backlogs.

On top of that, the Government will work with Arts Council to develop a long-term strategic plan for the future of museums.

Read more: A beloved Leeds bar is moving after 15 years – but its new home is only three minutes away

Featured Image – Science Museum Group