People

Tim Hey – Farm owner

Tim grew up on an alpaca farm in Tasmania, Australia where he was involved with many aspects of his family’s herd called Van Diemen Alpacas. At the age of 18 Tim attended the University of Tasmania and graduated three years later with a science degree majoring in Aquaculture. Soon after graduation Tim worked in a technical and scientific role for the largest Atlantic Salmon producer in Australia, while still being heavily involved with his family’s alpaca herd and the Tasmanian region of the Australian Alpaca Association.

In 2002 Tim left the aquaculture industry and came to England to further his alpaca career. He had the pleasure of visiting Peru and Australia many times selecting alpacas for import into Europe and Australia. Tim had the privilege of selecting some of the best alpacas ever to enter Europe and Australia. These alpacas included Wessex Rural Alianza Wiracocha (Supreme Champion Alpaca – Royal Bath and West Show 2005), Cedar House Hugo (Supreme Champion Alpaca – Royal Sydney Easter Show 2006), Wessex Adonica (Supreme Champion Alpaca – Royal Show, South of England Show, East of England Show 2005), EP Cambridge Top Account, EP Cambridge Imposing, EP Cambridge Tidemark and many of our own prize winning herd.

In 2006 Inca Alpaca was born when Tim imported stock to join his growing UK alpaca herd. Stock came from Tim’s family’s herd and they purchased more elite females and herd sires in Australia and South America. Now Amberley Farm hosts over 300 alpacas of which over 200 are black in colour.

Tim is a qualified BAS judge who has judged in the UK, Europe and Australia and he is also a judge trainer. Having recently retired from the board of directors of the British Alpaca Society, Tim is still involved in Alpaca Welfare discussions with DEFRA and the BAS National Show.

To read more about how and why Tim started breeding alpacas in Australia click here.