A HAIRDRESSER is using her cutting and styling skills in a rather novel way as she and her partner go in search of the good life.

Emma and Rodney Bird have spent the last year building up a stock of alpacas on a nine-acre farm in Stancombe near North Nibley in a bid to ‘live the dream’.

Emma, 42, is a mobile hairdresser and Rodney, 42, a builder, but both hope to be able to give up their careers eventually and rely solely on their business at Bird Farm.

Not only do they breed alpacas, Emma spins the yarn to make the incredibly soft alpaca fleece, Rodney has planted 10,000 willows for Emma’s willow weaving and they have pigs, chickens and a vegetable patch, making them close to self-sufficient.

"We have done this for the lifestyle," said Emma, who still works part-time doing mobile hairdressing around Chipping Sodbury. "We have always wanted to work on the land, live the good life. It’s hard work but I love it."

Emma has found her hairdressing skills have been a big help in the change of lifestyle as alpaca wool is very similar to human hair and her plating skills have transferred to the willow weaving. Meanwhile her mother knits hats, scarves and teddies from the yarn Emma spins by hand on an old-fashioned spinning wheel.

The couple, who have three children and one grandchild, held an open day last weekend where they displayed some of Rodney’s handmade wooden furniture and showed children their small flock of alpacas.

"They are very quiet, serene animals," said Emma. "When we stumbled on alpacas we knew straightaway they were for us.

"They are small, friendly animals that are easy to keep, we don’t have to take them to slaughter and they produce this wonderful soft fleece."

Originally from Chile and Peru, alpacas are in the same family as llamas and produce a fabric akin to cashmere.

Emma hopes to start willow weaving and basket making courses at Bird Farm and the pair tour around local fairs and agricultural shows. They may love the lifestyle, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

"We have taken a massive leap of faith, we just hope it all works out," added Emma. "We want the community to see what we have done here and to hopefully support us."

To find out more about Bird Farm and the products they sell visit www.birdfarm.co.uk