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Jamie Roberts with trio of alpacas in front of a bronze statue of alpacas in Saltaire, West Yorkshire

Jamie Roberts with trio of alpacas in front of a bronze statue of alpacas in Saltaire, West Yorkshire.

We are happy to post the following article that was shared with us by Amanda Brown of A2B PR with photograph of Jamie Roberts with alpacas taken by photographer Bob Collier.

ALPACAS STAR IN TREK TO COMMEMORATE YORKSHIRE'S MILL HERITAGE

An important era in Yorkshire's history was commemorated today when the owner of one of the county's top rural visitor attractions donned Victorian attire and began a walk with a trio of alpacas in tow.

Jamie Roberts set out from Saltaire in West Yorkshire to return home to Kilnsey Park in the Yorkshire Dales as part of the Park's 35th anniversary celebrations. The walk is also honouring an important anniversary in the history of Salts Mill, one of Yorkshire's and the world's greatest industrial powerhouses in Victorian times and now a cultural centre and UNESCO World Heritage site.

It was 120 years ago when Jamie's great great grandfather Sir James Roberts took over Salts Mill from the family of the founder, Sir Titus Salt and saved it from bankruptcy.

As the mill's fortunes - and those of his family - were largely built on spinning alpaca wool, Jamie decided it was a fitting tribute to start the walk with the camelid trio before they take up residence at Kilnsey Park.

Jamie is walking part of the route with the alpacas, from Salts Mill to Crossflats following the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, before rejoining the route about 4 miles from Kilnsey. He said: "Bringing home the alpacas to Kilnsey is a fantastic way of celebrating my family's heritage and connections with Salts Mill. The success of the Mill enabled my ancestors to purchase the Kilnsey Estate in 1911 and it has remained in our family ever since."

"In 1978 we opened a trout farm and trekking centre and since then the Estate has gone from strength to strength not only as a visitor attraction but also as a centre for conservation and as one of the most sustainable businesses in the

A weekend of celebrations is planned at Kilnsey Park on 10-11th August including family activities, outdoor performances, music and local food and drink. More information can be found at www.kilnseypark.co.uk

The alpacas are also local having been bred by prize-winning breeders at Carlshead Farm near Wetherby.

Background:

1893 - Jamie Roberts's great great grandfather Sir James Roberts takes over Salts Mill from the family of the founder, Sir Titus Salt. Sir James, from Haworth, had originally begun working in the mill aged 11. At one time Salts Mill was the largest industrial building in the world, employing 4,000 people.

1911 - Bertram Roberts, son of Sir James Roberts, purchases Kilnsey Estate

1978 - Kilnsey Park trout farm and trekking centre opens

1994 - the first red squirrels are introduced at Kilnsey Park

2007 - One of the UK's rarest wild flowers, the Lady's Slipper Orchid, reintroduced at the Park.

2013 - Park celebrates its 35th anniversary and welcomes alpacas to the Park

The alpacas have been sourced from prize-winning alpaca breeders at Carlshead Farm near Wetherby