Heading to a farm for a spring day out, a few days before Easter, is always such a lovely thing to do with the family. On a recent trip back to the UK, we were staying with my parents who were keen to treat their children and grandchildren to a day out at Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park. His father first started the farm back in the 1970’s to try and help some rare breeds, and since then he has taken over this rather famous place. It is growing all the time and has become very successful. We headed off to enjoy a slightly cooler, but still dry, spring day on the farm.
There is a lot to do at the Cotswold Farm Park, and if you are a local, it is worth a few visits there to make sure you have seen everything. We started the day with a tractor safari around the farm. This was a good way to get our bearings and see what things there were to do, and where it all was. It was a very informative ride, as the driver told us about the history of the farm and the breeds they have as we went round.
As you can imagine, there were babies everywhere!!! The Cotswold Farm Park have a large lambing barn, and they are keen for you to be able to experience as much as possible, so if are lucky you can see a live birth. My father was, and he watched some triplets being born. One didn’t make it sadly, but he was able to see mum settle in with her other 2, and by the time we got there, they were only 20 minutes old. The trio were slightly confused by the pink tinge of the newborn lambs, but after a brief biology lesson, they’d learnt something else. It was so lovely being able to get so close and to see so much going on.
The trio were very involved; stroking lambs, kids, holding bunnies and chicks, admiring piglets, tickling guinea pigs, and bottle feeding the lambs and kids too. They loved being so hands on. We’d also bought 4 bags of animal feed, and there was a very good walk around the fields of the farm, allowing us to stop and feed the animals along the way. The majority were hand fed, but the cows had a little chute that you poured the feed down into their trough. All the animals were so docile and very friendly. The most laid back farm animals I have ever seen.
As well as all the animals there are a lot of other good facilities as well at the Cotswold Farm Park. There is provision to be able to buy food and drink, and those important afternoon ice creams. However, there are great provisions for bringing your own food with you. No need to worry about the dodgey British weather, as we sat in a teepee style tent wide open on one side, feeling like we were outdoors but without running the risk of soggy sandwiches if it did rain. There is also a huge play park area to amuse the little ones while grown ups take a break and maybe have a drink and watch them. It is immense and you need to make sure you allow time to play in there as well.
It was a really lovely day out, very hands on, and the trio learnt a lot too. We could easily go back though and enjoy it again!! I think if we lived in nearer (in the UK would be a start!!) the Cotswold Farm Park would be somewhere we would go several times as there is so much to see and do there. It is a beautiful place for both the animals and families to enjoy.
Comments 21
What a nice day out, there is so much to be learnt at the farm, my kids love being with the animals. Mich x
Looks like you all had a great day out on the farm! We have a place similar to this near us called the Rare Breeds Centre and the boys absolutely love going there to meet all the animals xx
Sounds like a wonderful day out. We love visiting farms as my daughter is animals obsessed! xxx
the Cotswolds area is just stunning. The farm looks great as its so hands on 🙂
I love going tot he farm with my little ne, and this time year is certainly the best time- I’m gutted I can’t go near the lambs because I’m pregnant because they are so cute!
Author
Ah yes, not a good idea! Maybe next year
I love reading about places to visit that we haven’t been to yet – thanks for the tip 🙂 Love the first pic of the goat, he looks like a character! xx
Author
It was such a lovely place to go
Aww this is local to us so we are definitely going to have to make time to visit this summer.
Author
You will really enjoy it 🙂
This farm looks fab! Definitely need to take the little ones there. I absolutely adore little lambs, goats not so much! I’m terrified of them ha! X
Farms are great for children. We must go to one again.
This farm looks amazing! I love the idea of being hands on and being able to touch and feed the animals- my girls would love it here! xx
Adam Henson’s farm has always looked like a fab day out for any animal loving kids, it’s great that it’s quite clearly hands on and kid friendly. I love that there’s plenty of rare-breeds to spot around the farm, it’s important to keep breeds like that alive and remembered. I bet your three want to go back next time you’re in the UK again, they all look encapsulated by the baby animals.
Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
Author
Yes it was such a lovely day out, and very informative. So nice to see them keeping the breeds going.
It’s a wonderful place to explore isn’t it and set in such beautiful countryside too. A favourite of ours #CountryKids
This looks lovely, we have a similar farm near us where the children can get involved in the feeding and handling. Those lambs are so cute!
We had a few interesting questions this year when we went lambing! Love that there were loads of animals to strike and pick up too. #CountryKids
Author
ah yes, we did too!!
We camped at the Farm Park pre parenthood and I’m desperate to go back with our son. It looks like such a brilliant day out for children, I know he’s love it. It looks like you all had a great time. #CountryKids
Author
They are redoing the camping so it will be worth a trip