Thornton Hall Farm Safari

A few weeks ago, a sponsored advert on Facebook appeared on my feed: Thornton Hall Country Farm Park was temporarily reopening its farm park as a farm safari, due to Covid-19. I must admit I'd never heard of Thornton Hall previously but a quick google told me it was north of Burnley, about an hour away, so we decided to give it a go.

As with most places at the moment, pre-booking was required. We had no trouble booking the time and date that we wanted, despite it being the summer holidays. The prices were much cheaper than Knowsley Safari Park, but there was a booking fee added.

On the way it rained very heavily but luckily as we went round it stopped so we could open the windows.

It's clear that a lot of thought has been put into converting the farm park into a farm safari. The signage was clear, we were given a map showing the route, and there was even a toilet pit stop before you checked in to start your safari. Information boards peppered the route with animal facts, and there was also a board showing the story of Little Red Riding Hood alongside cardboard cut outs of characters from the story.

The staff were all energetic and friendly, from those checking us in at the start (including the one in the mascot costume who counted us down before we set off), to those out on the safari route providing extra information.

Some animals such as the goats were inside fenced enclosures, but others, such as the gigantic cattle, were roaming free in the fields we drove through. At the end of the tour we drove through the animal barn where the horses, donkeys and pigs were housed. At check in we were offered the opportunity to purchase a bag of animal feed, to be thrown into the enclosures from your car, along with other items such as binoculars, goody bags, food and drink.

The safari really wasn't busy and we never felt rushed, we were able to take our time and drive as slowly as we wanted. F absolutely loved the novelty of the farm safari and spotting all the animals as we drove round. The only improvement I could suggest would be the option to drive around again, as F enjoyed it so much.

One other major selling point for us about this day out was that the on site diner was open for hot takeaway food, albeit with a reduced menu. Having had to take picnics whenever we've been out over the past month, it was a real treat to buy hot food and have it delivered to our car. The BBQ chicken pizza I had was excellent.

In these uncertain times, Thornton Hall should be admired for transforming its business to keep itself going. Hopefully by supporting it in its current form, it will be able to keep going until it is able to return to its usual form at some point in the future. They are also running drive in movie, concert and comedy events at the moment, the space for which seemed to be very well organised.

https://www.farmsafari.co.uk/



.

Mrs Dowsons Farm

Just off the A59, north of Blackburn, is Mrs Dowsons farm. Mrs Dowsons is a local ice cream maker, and I can personally attest to the quality of its ice cream, having served it at my wedding. Alongside their ice cream business, they also operate a small farm which is open weekends, bank holidays and school holidays.

The farm features sheep, pigs, alpacas, chicken, horses and more. The enclosures seemed spacious, and the surrounding countryside was breathtaking, a truly lovely spot.

We were offered animal feed when we bought our wristband, and it was clear that the animals are very used to being fed. As you approached their enclosures they immediately walked/ran over to you to poke their heads through/over the fence. Baby found this a bit intimidating, especially the sheep, who baa very loudly to get your attention. In one case, when two women who had been feeding a goat walked away, it jumped over the fence to follow them. 

After our first circuit of the farm we were slightly confused as to why an ice cream farm only seemed to have two highland cows, and then overheard another family discussing the same question. It turned out that the Farm Tour listed on the Daily Timetable, was actually a guided walk to the building housing their dairy cows, on the working part of their farm, so we decided to join the tour. Just before 11.30, the member of staff taking the tour actually walked around telling all the visitors she could see, that she was about to lead a tour over to the working farm to see the cows, so that no one missed the opportunity, which was a nice touch.

The Daily Timetable included chick and rabbit handling, as well as tours and feeding, all at no extra cost. We took part in the rabbit handling, which was well run, and the tour to see the cows. The cow barn we were shown housed pregnant cows and week old calves, as well as three hairy pigs. Visitors were given the opportunity to feed the calves, though Baby was not interested.

In addition to the animals, there was also a climbing frame for older children, a large sandpit, and a fleet of tractors and cars to keep the kids entertained. I knew it was small and had only envisioned spending around an hour there, but because of the sandpit and activities, we actually stayed for around three hours. At £4 per person, I'd call that money well spent.

There is a cafe serving sandwiches, panini, and of course ice cream on site, along with a small shop with the obligatory toy tractors and farm animal cuddly toys.

All in all, a lovely place to spend a few hours.


Key Facts
Month of visit:
August

Weather for visit:
Overcast but dry.

Is it pushchair friendly?
Yes. The path around the animal enclosure was wide and gravelled, so no need to worry about getting stuck in the mud.

How are the baby changing facilities?
Toilets are located by the cafe, with the baby changing in the disabled toilet. They were clean both times we had to use them!

What about somewhere to feed?
The cafe had plenty of seating, and there were lots of picnic benches outside.

Is it worth a visit?
Yes. We'll definitely be back.

Baby's highlight?
The ginormous pig. And her new toy tractor.

Mrs Dowsons Farm
Hawkshaw Farm,
Longsight Road,
Clayton-le-Dale,
Blackburn,
BB2 7JA


https://www.mrsdowsons.co.uk

Walton Hall and Gardens

A suggestion from another Mum on Facebook led to us visiting Walton Park one overcast but dry Thursday along with two of Baby's friends, who are the same age. Daddy had a week's holiday from work so he also came.

On the South side of Warrington, it took us about half an hour, though for Baby's friends, who don't live as close to the motorway as we do, it took about 40 minutes, so it's not exactly around the corner. Sat nav took us straight there, though it did take us through the crematorium, which was signposted as no through traffic, presumably because sat nav has a tendency to direct people that way.

The car park was large, and rather empty when we arrived just before 10.30am, but jam packed when we left around 2pm. Parking was a flat rate of £3 for weekdays, and £4 on weekends.

Walking past the ice cream van, we immediately encountered a very helpful map of the park. We were aiming for the play area and zoo, but also intended to visit the cafe for lunch. There was also an adventure golf course, plus a pitch n putt area, as well as large green spaces, and formal gardens.

The play area was fantastic; I was so impressed. It was huge, with lots of play equipment, and seemed in very good condition. Unlike some parks, there was plenty of space between the difference pieces of equipment, so even when it got busy later on, it still didn't feel too chaotic.

The usual pieces of play equipment were present: four baby swings, four normal swings, a see saw, a roundabout, climbing frames and slides. The single slide was set amongst several teletubby style hills, and there were a range of musical tubes. However, what really set this park apart was its suitability for toddlers. 

The main play area was described as suitable for children aged 3-7, with a separate, well equipped, area for bigger children aged 7-11, meaning that there were fewer older children tearing around the play area knocking into smaller children, which often happens at other parks. The roundabout had four enclosed seats, similar to those used for baby swings, and there was a separate climbing structure with just a couple of steps up, well placed handrails and small slides, that was perfect for toddlers.

Because the park was relatively quiet when we arrived, our babies were able to go on the slightly bigger climbing frame, with its taller slides, too, though they struggled to get up the steps or lower themselves onto the slides, independently.

The play area for older children was in a separate fenced area, so we didn't investigate it, but the kids in there were having a whale of a time.

The Children's Zoo was just past the playground. For a free zoo, it was really impressive. The enclosures were pretty large, and while the animals weren't particularly exotic, there was plenty for the babies to took at. It was quite a mix, with squirrels and rabbits alongside ferrets and chickens, in addition to farmyard staples such as horses, goats, donkeys and pigs. Adding something a little different, the main enclosure housed three llamas. Of all things, the babies loved looking at the chickens, presumably because they moved a lot.

When tummies started to rumble, we headed for the Heritage Cafe. It was bigger than expected, with a reasonable variety of toasties, panini, and sandwiches. There were also hot sausage rolls and pasties, and children's lunch bags ready made up, featuring sandwiches, yoghurts and jelly pouches. Three sandwiches and two drinks cost around £14, so the food prices were very reasonable.

All in all, a very successful day out. The free zoo was a lovely addition to the park, and the play area was excellent. We'll definitely be back.




Key Facts

Month of visit:
April

Weather for visit:
Overcast but dry.

Is it pushchair friendly?
Very, paths are wide and flat.

How are the baby changing facilities?
There are toilets next to the play area, and near the cafe. We used the baby changing in the female toilets near the cafe. They were acceptably clean but very cold.

What about somewhere to feed?
Plenty of benches around the park, and the cafe had some comfortable chairs.

Is it worth a visit?
Definitely.

Baby's highlight?
The swings.



Walton Hall and Gardens,
Walton Lea Road,
Higher Walton,
Warrington,
Cheshire,
WA4 6SN


https://www.warrington.gov.uk/waltongardens

Smithills Open Farm

This farm had been recommended by a few different people, so after the success of Wimpole Farm on holiday we decided to give it a try.

We used sat nav, but as we got close, sat nav wanted to send us in a different direction to the brown signs pointing to Smithills Country Park. We decided to follow the signs, and this turned out to be the correct decision. The farm signs weren't great however. We missed the turning for the entrance, as from the side we approached (turning right into the gate) there was only a sign for Smithills Hall. After we'd driven past, looking back I saw a sign for the farm. Luckily there was a little turning place; presumably we're not the first to have made this mistake. Once we'd driven into the park, we found another sign. However, the arrow wasn't particularly clear, and at first we took the left, rather than the right fork. Finding our way blocked, we backtracked and drove up a road that looked as if it would just lead to a housing estate. Continuing, we arrived at the farm, and found our way to the car park. Clearer and more frequent signage would definitely not go amiss.

The car park was busier than I'd expect for a cold Monday in term time. At the ticket desk, we paid £7 for each adult, Baby was free. The girl on the desk offered donkey rides, tractor rides and animal feed for an additional charge, but we declined. Walking round, it was very clear that the animals are used to being fed by visitors, they would stick their heads above and through fences as soon as we even thought about walking past them.

By the entrance there was a large board with the times of various activities happening that day. We saw one other visitor taking a photo on her phone, which proved a good idea as an aide memoire.

We were given a map when we bought our tickets, but it wasn't particularly useful. I found it a tad confusing as entrances/exits/through routes for each of the barns weren't noted. After walking round, I could just about understand it, but if I was using it to navigate to a specific barn I think I would have struggled.

We first walked through an animal barn containing pigs, alpacas, horses and sheep. Baby looked, but didn't seem particularly interested. It was freezing cold so I'd decided to put her in the pram rather than the carrier, perhaps this meant she was less engaged.

Through the other side of the barn we could see the toilets, so I took Baby to be changed. Clean nappy on, we found the cafe, for some much needed warmth. Burgers, jacket potatoes, sandwiches, toasties, plus breakfasts, all at very reasonable prices. The food took longer to arrive than expected, but at least that suggests it was freshly cooked. The egg from Grandpa's egg and bacon barm was also missing, but we didn't want to wait another twenty minutes for them to redo it, so he just ate his eggless barm. The cafe was not that big, around twelve to fifteen tables from memory. When we arrived, at 12pm, we took the last table. By the time we left there were a handful of free tables, but I can imagine that at peak times at weekends and during holidays it's very difficult to get a table. There did seem to be plenty of highchairs available and there were some picnic tables outside.

Baby was too little to ride the donkeys, but as no-one was riding them, we took Baby over for a look. All three looked very sad, but then as every Winnie the Pooh fan knows, that does tend to be their natural expression. We could hear a talk being given whilst the cows were being milked so we walked into that barn, but there were steps up to the viewing platform (though only a handful) so I didn't take Baby's pram up there. This barn also housed lots of calves and a couple of very inquisitive llama, who were interested in chewing Baby's pram, when no animal feed was forthcoming. There were also goats, donkeys and lambs.

As we made our way through the barn, the staff told us that Pets Corner was about to start, if we wanted to join in. I was a bit dubious about this, as previous experience Pets Corners has involved one animal being held by staff while it is mobbed by lots of boisterous children. This one was different, and much more organised and calm (for the most part). Bales of hay around the edge provided seating, with just one step up so we kept Baby in her pram and took a seat.

First up were some lambs. Bottles were handed out to visitors, (including Grandma), and then the lambs were let loose. They clearly know the drill as they were racing around to find the bottles. Staff kept an eye on them and once a lamb had finished a bottle, it was scooped up and put back in its pen, to ensure that all the lambs were able to feed. The staff then collected the empty bottles in. I'm glad I kept Baby in her pram for this bit as the lambs were very energetic.

Next was a baby goat. The staff brought him round to each family one at a time, allowing them a minute or so to stroke the goat. I took Baby out of her pram and used her hand to stroke it, and she loved it. Further animals introduced in this manner included a baby donkey, piglet, and even an owl. There was also a snake, which was draped over four unsuspecting volunteers in the middle of the barn, and children were invited up to touch it. Mummy does not like snakes so Grandma took a very brave Baby to stroke it. Baby was more interested in stroking the fur collar on the lady holding the snake!

At the end, the staff brought out chicks and handed them out to each family. We declined, as Baby wasn't quite ready to be holding animals by herself. Rabbits were also offered, we just let Baby stroke one being held by a member of staff briefly, rather than actually taking one to hold.

Staff had made sure to reiterate the importance of hand washing, so we took Baby to wash her hands before finding the weird and wonderful section, and Meerkat Mountain. Back in her pram, Baby was unable to see most of the weird and wonderful animals (owls, skunks, coati among others) because of the mesh enclosures, and because they weren't particularly easy to distinguish from their surroundings, colourwise. On our first walk past there were no meerkats to be seen, and although one had appeared when we walked back down, the walls were too high for Baby to see over in her pram.

We visited the cow barn, which also contained goats and horses, before starting to walk around the field enclosures. Unfortunately the terrain proved too much for our pram, and so we turned back, although I don't think we really missed much, as the animals in these enclosures weren't particularly close to the fences and so would have been difficult for Baby to see.

All in all, a nice little farm for a day out, with the added bonus of the well organised Pets Corner giving Baby a new experience.


Key facts:
Month of visit:
February

Weather for visit:
Very very cold, but dry.

Is it pushchair friendly?
Yes. The main barns have wide paths that pose no problems for a pushchair. The enclosures further out (behind the cow barn) had more gravelly paths, and I turned back, as pushing along there was proving too difficult.

How are the baby changing facilities?
I was very disappointed with the facilities. There were two sets of baby changing, one next to the women's toilets and one next to the men's, though when I used them, I didn't realise there was a second room. I had to leave the pram outside the one in the ladies as I couldn't get it in, and close the door, which was a very wide door. Equally, I had to walk in, then close the door, before I could put the baby changing unit down. Thankfully Grandpa was on hand to hold onto the pram while Grandma and I changed Baby.

Next challenge was the baby changing unit itself. Covered in dried mud, and requiring a good clean before I could put Baby down. To clean it, Grandma had to use the tap, the water from which was icy cold. As someone who prefers to use cotton wool and water rather than wipes (and indeed had forgotten wipes this day!), this was not good. Additionally, it was so cold in there (no heating) that Baby was shivering even before I'd started to undress her. Next time I'd change Baby in the car. It might not be any warmer but it would definitely be cleaner. When we discovered the second set of baby changing by the gents we had a quick look, but unfortunately that room wasn't any cleaner.

What about somewhere to feed?
Freezing cold with nowhere to sit in the baby changing, so I fed in the cafe. It's only a small cafe however, so if there was a queue for tables I would have felt a bit time pressured.

Is it worth a visit?
Yes, especially if you have mobile children, who can get involved in feeding, milking, tractor rides etc. Even for Baby the Pets Corner proved a big success. I'd imagine it gets very busy at weekends though.

Baby's highlight?
Pets Corner.

Smithills Open Farm

Smithills Dean Road,

Bolton,

Greater Manchester,

BL1 7NR

http://www.smithillsopenfarm.co.uk/index.php