FROLICKING lambs have been a fixture of the fells for centuries but, as it gets ever harder to generate a profit from sheep farming, perhaps we should be looking to more exotic animals to graze our hills?

Certainly that is the view of Robin and Caroline Sandys-Clarke of Sedbergh who are asking in common with the name of their enterprise - Why not Alpacas?' writes Jennie Dennett.

The couple, who have a thriving herd of alpacas, believe these hardy and low maintenance creatures are ideal candidates for farm diversification with the advent of the Single Farm Payment. "Now farmers are being paid for having land and not stock, it's a lot easier to have a few alpacas than hundreds of sheep," said Robin.

The camelids are more usually found 4,000 ft above sea level in the mountains of Chile and Peru. These hardy mountain credentials added to their fine fleece meant they were heavily touted as a diversification option five years ago.

In that time the UK's herd has grown to around 10,000. With their loveable looks they have proved extremely popular with hobby farmers and even holiday cottage owners looking to give their properties novelty value. But they still have not quite taken off as a commercial breed among diversifying farmers.

However, the Sandys-Clarkes, who invested in four pregnant females in 1999 and now have a successful breeding herd of 50 alpacas, believe Common Agricultural Policy reforms should finally persuade more people to take the plunge.

"They're really lovely animals," said Robin. "They are really easy to deal with, very pleasant and intelligent, they're all right in all weathers, don't mess up the ground and they don't eat huge amounts of anything."

Making a commercial success of alpaca farming is unfortunately not like falling off a log, says Robin but, compared to sheep, the sums are stacked in their favour.

The set-up costs for alpacas are daunting an alpaca female costs from £5,000 compared to £80 for a breeding ewe. But then you have to sell a lot fewer crias (baby alpacas) than lambs to make a profit.

Their fleece is also beautifully silky and strong (it was a favourite of Queen Victoria's) and has a premium value unlike that of hill sheep which is routinely clipped at a loss.

A typical three-kilo alpaca fleece will cost £15 to shear but fetches around £60 to £75 with anything up to £120 for the softest wool from a young alpaca.

In contrast, a Swaledale fleece fetches from 20p to 40p which doesn't cover the 70p-a-sheep shearing bill. Rough Fells fare better at £1 a fleece but after shearing that leaves a 30p margin.

"I am excited about the whole thing and I'm hoping alpacas will take off with hill farmers but old habits die hard," said Robin. "It's hard to persuade a farmer to change what he has been doing for generations."

Anyone interested in the animals can contact the British Alpaca Society on www.bas-uk.com or the Sandys-Clarkes on 015396-21246 or via www.whynotalpacas.co.uk.