Spring is finally in the air and there are fewer sights more spring-like than a field full of lambs frolicking in the grass.

Many farms now fling their barn doors open to the public at this time of year and families flock to take their children to meet the newborns.

But grown-ups love a lamb too, and that’s where “late night lambing” at Coombes Farm near Lancing differs from the rest, as it is strictly for adults only.

Farmer’s daughter and physiotherapist Pam Peacock, 26, said: “My mum started daytime lambing here about 35 years ago and it’s become really popular.

“Over the years lots of adults have commented on how much they would love to feed and cuddle a lamb but have to make way for their children instead and that’s partly the reason we started the evening sessions.”

Late night lambing is in its third year at Coombes Farm and Pam has a much more personal and important reason for inviting adults to the farm.

She said: “I suffer with depression and saw an article online that said that small animals, sheep and farming in general can really help people with depression and anxiety because it’s so calming.

“I started with just six nights and advertised it on Facebook on a bit of a whim really, then more nights the second year which completely sold out and this year we’re doing 30 nights.”

Late night lambing started last week and runs 8pm to 10pm every night currently, giving adults a chance to get up close and personal with the lambs.

“Customers can bottle feed and cuddle the lambs and watch out for any births,” Pam said. “We only do small groups to keep it quiet because the sheep are sleeping.

“We encourage people to bring old blankets with them so they can get in with the lambs and cuddle up, some people just sit in there with them for the whole evening.”

The sessions attract people from all walks of life and Pam has noticed many people with autism or disabilities love coming to the farm as it’s so relaxing but also very accessible.

She said: “From a mental health perspective, people have spoken to me about how effective it is because it’s so simple you don’t worry about anything else.

“Also there’s no phone signal here so people can’t sit on their phones all night, they are in the moment.”

Coombes Farm has been in the family for generations with Pam’s grandfather originally at the helm and her great uncle in charge of Applesham Farm next door.

Both farms have been passed down over the years and Coombes has been handed to Pam’s brother, Andrew Flake, 24, who knows all there is to know about sheep farming.

Pam said: “My brother has done a lot of training in New Zealand so if anything goes really wrong during a birth, Andrew can usually help and we haven’t had many losses this year.”

Sheep only have two teats with which to feed their young, so in the case of births of three or more lambs to one ewe, a technique called wet fostering can be used.

This involves a lamb from another ewe being held close to a birthing ewe to allow any fluid to coat the already-born lamb, which in turn makes the ewe think she has had two babies and takes both on as her own.

The legs of the fostered lamb are bound together for a short time so that it lies with its new mother while she washes it and they can form a bond.

“The more fluid we can coat the foster lamb in, the better,” said Andrew.

“Once the ewe is licking the lamb it’s usually a good sign, but we do keep an eye on them in case it doesn’t work.

“The older the foster lamb is, the harder it can be to get them to bond so we have to do it as quickly as we can.”

Lambs who cannot be taken on by their mothers are known as pet lambs and they are fed and cared for by the staff on the farm until they are ready to go out into the fields with the rest of the flock.

It is these pet lambs who are available for cuddles and bottle feeding at late night lambing.

To book a cuddle, email latenightlambing@outlook.com before the spaces sell out.