Shadow Wood News

Shadow Wood Isolation Services (SWIS) and Shadow Wood Suris Limited

Grant and I believe in respect, honesty and integrity. We wholeheartedly support alpaca owners wanting a professional and friendly group who will organise educational and social events. We now join with other owners when it is appropriate to support both commercial enterprises with an industry focus as well as lifestyle owners looking for knowledge and a welcoming informal community.

Update 2023

Wow - what a lot has happened since my last news post. Covid has done it’s worst and moved into the background. It’s still there of course but not having such a dramatic influence on our lives.

Shadow Wood is still here, doing well and still very much involved in all things alpaca.

2022 saw Grant and I more heavily involved in the Alpaca Association NZ. It was a very satisfying year with many events, workshops and shows back on the calendar. Much of the politics of a typical voluntary organisation settled down and it has become a more pleasant space for everyone to contribute to if they wish.

2023 has started with difficulties with the current EU export. We have quite a number of very sweet alpaca agisting here until the situation is resolved. There is no news at the moment and we are still hoping for a departure date in November with the isolation period starting at the beginning of October.

Workshops 2021

Educational Workshops are being planned!

Open to our friendly alpaca community and covering a range of levels. Details will be advertised as soon as our dates are confirmed. Contact us at Shadow Wood if you would like to be added to the invitation list. We are planning a workshop in the next month or two (August/September 2021).

Rotorua Show January 30 2021

Our first show in well over a year and it was great to be back. We had very pleasing success with our show team and fleeces. The best part was to catch up with old friends and to see new breeders participating.

North Island Colourbration Show April 17 2021

Our second show for 2021, unfortunately Covid 19 has had an impact on the showing calendar. For results use the link below….

Check out our show results here……….

Export Underway……………….Update 03/06/2021

After a busy few weeks here on the farm we are happy to say we are now well into the isolation process. We’re very happy with how the alpacas have settled in and how well behaved they are. We’ve split the alpacas into 5 groups based on their destination country, some males were split to keep the bigger/smaller boys in the most appropriate group. The females are in two big groups and by doing this we can move them to fresh pasture during their stay. On the morning of the flight, they will be placed in the trucks in their groups. This will keep everything flowing smoothly at the airport as they can move directly into their crates. We will be preparing the crates with as much farm hay as we can get in. Steve Ridout will be ensuring all goes well during their flight. After the alpacas leave here, I will email out health records for each alpaca during their stay here.

Export Revised Dates……………….Update 20/02/2021

This is looking like a big shipment, to give everyone more time the export has been delayed by a few weeks. The confirmed departure date from NZ is 23rd June 2021, alpacas isolating at Shadow Wood need to be here by 8/9th May. The official isolation period starts on 12th May. This timeframe allows for all on farm biosecurity drenching to be completed before the alpacas enter their isolation paddocks. We will also accept alpacas earlier to work in with animals arriving from the South Island as transporters need to organise their schedules and ferry crossings.

Export News ………………………Update 08/02/2021

Our next export quarantine is being planned. If confirmed we are expecting alpacas to arrive here at the beginning of March (or late Feb) for a departure in mid April. Further updates with the exact dates to follow.

Covid-19 and the April/May Export …………Update 10/04/2020

Unfortunately due to the ongoing pandemic the next export has been postponed. New Zealand is in total lock-down for another two weeks and we expect some restrictions to be in place in NZ and around the world for a while yet.

The situation will be reviewed monthly and we look forward to receiving your alpacas into isolation when the time is right.

Next Export ……………………….Update 25/04/2020

Unfortunately considerable concern still exists with Covid-19. Understandably border restrictions are still common, the airlines need to ensure safe travel and airline timetables are still massively impacted. The export situation will be reviewed again in late May 2020.

Next Export ……………………….Update18/06/2020

The export situation remains the same with further delays and ongoing reviews. Due to the continuing need for social distancing (and a lack of space for grooms) and ongoing disruption to scheduling the export will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks. Steve Ridout at Wildflower Alpacas Quarantine and Exports is keeping a very close eye on the changes. He says…..”The scenario is that at the earliest we could start a Quarantine in August which would mean a mid Sept export. We had planned for the second shipment in October so the thought now is to combine both groups for an early October export”. We’ll also update here as soon as we have any news.

Export News ………………………Update 12/09/2020

There has been no change in the export situation and we continue to monitor for news. Covid-19 has made 2020 a very difficult year so so many of us. We are ready to start the next export but the safety of humans and alpacas is a priority and we can’t proceed until we’re certain we can complete the journey without any issues. Needles to say, the grass is growing well, spring is here and we look forward to a time when we can get back to something like normal. Take care :)

Export News - ……………………………..Update 10/10/2020

We’re moving alpacas at last! The first export of 2020 is just getting underway. All alpacas need to be here on the weekend of 17-18th October. The official isolation start is 21st October but this gives us the time to complete our on farm biosecurity before the alpacas enter isolation under the supervision of AsureQuality. The flight is booked and departing 2nd December. A lovely early Christmas present for the new owners.

Export News ………………………Update 12/12/2020

All alpacas have arrived safely into UK/EU.