Watch: Staffordshire holiday cottages welcome an adorable new baby wallaby

The joey has recently begun peeking out from the pouch of its proud mum, surprising guests who never expected to find a small Australian marsupial family living among the rolling countryside of rural Staffordshire.

Hollydale, near Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands, has quietly become home to a growing collection of animals including Highland cows, alpacas, miniature ponies and donkeys. But the most unexpected residents are its small family of wallabies, who have now welcomed their newest arrival.

Owners Jennifer and Scott Walker said discovering the joey was an unforgettable moment: “People are often surprised when they discover we have wallabies here in Staffordshire. When we first realised there was a joey in the pouch it was such an exciting moment for us all.

"Seeing this tiny little face beginning to pop out and explore the world has been amazing. It’s a reminder of how magical animals can be and we feel very lucky to share that experience with our guests.”

Alongside celebrating the new arrival, Hollydale has also recently taken in a rescued alpaca called Rikki, who arrived suffering from rickets, a condition that can affect bone development in young animals.

Since arriving at Hollydale just a few weeks ago, and with careful specialist advice along with the right balance of vitamins, minerals and nutrition, Rikki is already showing remarkable improvement. Staff say he can now often be seen happily running around the field with the other alpacas as he continues his recovery.

Jennifer said giving Rikki a safe place to recover has been incredibly rewarding.

“When we heard about Rikki and the condition he was in, we just knew we had to help. Animals have always been a huge part of life at Hollydale and seeing him start to regain his strength and confidence has been wonderful. Watching him now running around with the other alpacas is a really lovely sight.”

To allow more people to enjoy time with the animals, Hollydale has also recently launched Hollydale Animal Experiences. The new experience gives visitors the chance to spend time getting up close with the animals during a two hour guided visit, where guests can learn about them, enjoy plenty of petting and cuddles, and of course try to catch a glimpse of the tiny wallaby joey as it begins to venture outside its mother’s pouch.

Visitors will be able to meet Hollydale’s much loved Highland cows, alpacas, miniature ponies, donkeys and the now famous Staffordshire wallabies and baby joey.

Jennifer added: “We never imagined when we started Hollydale that we would one day be announcing a baby wallaby living here in Staffordshire. The animals have become such a big part of what makes Hollydale special. Being able to now offer experiences where people can come and meet them, and hopefully see the joey starting to explore the world, is really lovely.”

As the joey continues to grow and gain confidence, visitors to Hollydale may soon be lucky enough to witness its first adventures outside the pouch, something rarely expected in the heart of the English countryside.

For more information about Hollydale Animal Experiences, visit the Hollydale website or follow its social media pages for updates on the baby joey and Rikki’s recovery.