Ferry Farm Park at Hoveringham - A Fab Day Out

Farm parks seem to entertain all of the family, no matter what age. They can get a bit expensive though, so it is nice that Ferry Farm Park at Hoveringham offers the farm experience at a more reasonable price.

At just £6.95 each it is half the price of one of the other farm parks in the area, it has all of the animals you could wish of a farm park, animal feeding and petting as well as plenty of space to run around and explore.

With lots of outdoor and indoor play equipment, a sand pit and ride on tractors it is the perfect place to take a picnic and spend the day, it also has a wonderful restaurant offering home cooked food and cakes, which were delicious.

Since it was half term and mine and my daughters besties from Mummy Plus Three were heading there, we decided to join them, and I am so glad we did. It was a really lovely way to spend a sunny half term day.

We picked up some food and set about feeding the animals in the barn, my daughter has so much confidence when it comes to feeding them and loved the goats snuffling at her hands for food.

 

All three children could have spent all day driving round the tractor course or playing on the adventure playground, with the sun shining why not.

There is plenty of space to let off steam and enjoy the countryside and with it being close the to the River Trent you can always take a wander down there too.

My daughter and her friend really loved feeding the ponies and donkeys and chatting to them, it was really lovely to see the kids at one with nature, beats being indoors watching telly and is much better than any fidget spinner.

If you are local and after something to do in the summer holidays then why not pay a visit to Ferry Farm, some areas could do with a lick of paint but it is still well worth it, plus with Gonalston Farm Shop just down the road you can pick up some local produce on the way home.

Pumpkin Picking - Autumn Fun at Maxeys Farm Shop

With Halloween not far away we decided to head up to one of our favourite places at this time of the year and take part in one of Autumns most fun activities, pumpkin picking.

We've been pumpkin picking at Maxeys Farm Shop for the last few years, so with this year being bigger and better we decided to head up during a break in the rain last weekend.

It was muddy, but for me this added to the fun.  We donned our wellies and slid around the field looking for that perfect pumpkin, the sun shone brightly and we couldn't wait to find the ones.

You just know when you see the pumpkin that you want, it stands out, it looks at you with those take me home orange wrinkles or for me this year white and blue.

We walked around that field for over an hour, searching for that special pumpkin and eventually each of the children found theirs. We even found a couple of rather bumpy pumpkins that we decided to bring home too, so they could fulfil their pumpkin destiny.

Afterwards we walked through the spooky wood, paid our respects at the pumpkin graveyard and then the children both had a go on the pumpkin bouncy castle.

The field of orange was awe inspiring and to see so many pumpkins growing you can't even begin to imagine the hard work and commitment that goes in to growing them, it is definitely a long term relationship.

A quick ice-cream (and might I add very yummy ice cream from Thaymar) and a sit down in the sunshine before we headed back down the field to pay, it had at this point started to get a bit cloudy and not wanting to get stuck in the rain we headed home.

Not before a quick lunch stop in the farm shop and to pick up my white pumpkin and blue squash, they look gorgeous sat amongst the orange.

If you are local to Nottingham I can only re-iterate what I have said in previous years, this is a great place to see how food grows, to help out a local business and to spend a few hours outdoors with the family

Open Farm Sunday at The Real Milk Company

For the last few years, we have made a special effort to visit local farms for Open Farm Sunday, not only is a it a great way for the children to see what a real farm is like but it is also a great way to support British farmers.

This year we headed up to our local dairy farm, The Real Milk Company. They are a fabulous family run farm based in Halam, Nottinghamshire and with a strong heard of Montbéliarde cows, they are GM Free and are currently converting to being an organic farm.

With tractors on show from local farms, local ice cream from Thaymar Ice Cream and bread from Hambleton Bakery there was plenty to do whilst you waited for a tractor ride. 

I think it is safe to say that everyone loves a tractor ride, so we hopped into the trailer for the short trip up to the main farm, whilst we were on the tractor, we were given a quiz to complete which we could hand in at the end of the tour for a prize.

Once at the top, we were greeted by some cows which had been kept in for the day, as well as some of the mama cows who had just given birth or were waiting to give birth. Including the rather beautiful cow which graces The Real Milk Company's logo.

Since I have spoken about The Real Milk Company a lot over on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the farmer Ian said hello, it was nice he recognised me and we got chatting about the farm, what is happening with the organic certification and all about the cows and farm life surrounding them. It was fascinating to hear all about them and how they spend their day, as well as some other interesting facts such as, the tanker driver is the one who checks if the milk is ok, he lifts the lid and makes sure it doesn't smell off.

We also got talking about the price of milk in supermarkets and the very small amount farmers are given per litre, on average they get 19p a litre, 19p! It is heartbreaking considering the hard work and dedication the farmers go through to produce this yummy white stuff, but for Ian, his son Tom and their family, they continue to farm as their family have done for years before them.

After we had chatted for a while, we headed round the rest of the farm, there was a tanker which allowed us to see how the milk is transported as well as lots more calves which I think you'll agree are just the cutest.

We had a milkshake made with the farms milk and since we already drink it, I knew it would be amazing and it was. After some hale bale climbing fun, we decided to walk back down to the car rather than get the tractor back. It was such a lovely day it seemed a shame not too and it meant we got to get up close and personal with the cows themselves.

Most of them were more than happy if not eager to have their photo taken and they are just such a beautiful animal that it was a pleasure to do that.

When we got back to the beginning we answered the final few questions and the children got their goody bags from the kind people at Arla.

Did you visit any farms for Open Farm Sunday this year? I'd love to see your story if you did.

Loveland Farm Glamping - A Week Away from it All

Our week at Loveland Farm was by far one of the best holidays I have ever had, the peace and tranquility was second to none and getting back to nature was just what we all needed.

No electrical appliances to distract us in the day and only the projector to watch a film on in the evening, whilst snuggled under the blankets together. It was a beautiful holiday and I cannot fault any of it, there wasn't one thing I would have changed. When we arrived at the dome on the Monday evening after a rainy drive down, it was sunny and the blue sky made for a beautiful arrival. The pod was filled with a wonderful warm air and we sat down to cheese and cold meats on the table outside with a glass of wine for the adults, listening to the chickens clucking it was bliss.

I had been worried about the composting toilet and I held my first wee in for as long as I could but it wasn't bad at all, there was no smell and apart from the oddness of peeing in a shed, it was quite pleasant, especially since the toilet was shaped like a throne. After you'd been to the toilet you chucked on a bit of compost from the bucket next to the loo and off you go, there is a hot tap in case you were wondering, heated using electricity generated by the solar panels next door to the pod.

The shower room was next door and being used to outdoor showers from my days camping as a child I loved the cool breeze and warm water being rained down on me at the same time, it was certainly the best way to be woken up in the morning.

This isn't just camping though, this is glamping and it wouldn't be glamping without touches like a king size bed, table and chairs and a big log burner to ensure you have those creature comforts, wonderfully thick local duvets, as well as Loveland Farms own blankets ensured we were all kept warm at night.

The detail within the pod was beautiful, the wonderful pink 'spinny' chair as the children called it being a particulate favourite of us all, a place to sit and read, watch the world outside or be silly on. Wonderful festoon lights around the pod were beautiful once it got dark and the sun had gone down behind the hills.

Each morning, I would wake up and be amazed at the stillness mixed in with the sounds of nature, everything from the chickens, to seagulls, pheasants, sheep and even the occasional moo from the wonderful water buffalo over near the other pods.

The kitchen, although basic allowed us to cook a fry up every morning and we had one meal in the evening in it, we were out for one other evening and had another cheese supper on our final night but had we thought about it more and been there longer, we would have used the BBQ, we never felt like we needed an oven.

We had ordered a welcome pack, which contained everything we needed for breakfast so you could arrive with no food and be ok until the next day, the local shop in Hartland, called The Pop In had everything you need so you don't need to venture far for supplies, several of the major supermarkets also deliver to Hartland, so you could pre-order for delivery whilst you are in the pod.

Each morning, the children went to check whether or not their were any eggs from the chickens, it was not only a great way for them to see where they come from, it also completely in awe at the whole process. They loved the wonderful chickens and cockerel who were in the pen, the cockerel kept escaping, much to their delight. There are piggies too over near the other pods, as well as the water buffalo and up until recently the sheep were cutting the grass in the main area.

We did pop over to see the other pods, they have a great vantage point and although they are all in close proximity to each other, the windows all face away, so you do get some privacy, the Loveland Pod, which is where we stayed was completely separate from the rest and apart from the chickens was very private.

The beautiful enamelled plates, concrete worktops and attention to detail flows through all of the pods, the Eden Pod has a teepee in the centre as well as table football, it really is beautiful. The kitchens all have toasters, kettles and everything you need for your stay.

As the night drew in, we watched the sun set from the balcony, it was beautiful and really took us back the basics of life. Watching the day come to a close together before heading into the pod to get warm and snuggle up together. 

It is so utterly dark outside that on a clear night you could see thousands and thousands of stars, the completely blackness of being in the middle of nowhere really hit home and if I hadn't of been so cold stood in the darkness I would have stopped and gazed for ages. As you have to pop outside to go to the kitchen and toilet there are automatic lights that come on so you don't really need a torch either.

In the day, you can lounge around the pod, there is plenty of space to just stay and kick a ball, sunbathe and read a book, or you could walk down the to the coast, the walk to the lighthouse at Hartland Point is beautiful and if you fancy a going a bit further you could walk to the quay where there is a pub, shop and museum. We went rock pooling there, but as we have two small children, we drove down to the quay.

Further afield there are so many beautiful towns, Bideford has a pannier market as does Barnstaple. We went into the beautiful fishing village of Appledore just round from Westward Ho for a spot of crabbing, it is cheap enough to buy a bucket, line and some bait and we spent a good few hours sat in the quay catching crabs and then having some yummy fish and chips. It was a great way to while away the hours and the children and adults all loved it.

I could keep on writing about our holiday at Loveland Farm until the cows, or in this case water buffalo, come home, its charm and simple but glamorous beauty has me hooked and everyone who has seen my pictures has asked where it was and what it was like, as they are intrigued by the dome.

Without a doubt, the children got on better without the distraction of the telly and iPads and I felt a sense of calm the whole week, waking up to beautiful sunrises and the cool spring air on my face then standing with a hot chocolate on the deck admiring the wonderful surroundings.

Thank you to Fleur, Karina and Jeff at Loveland Farm for making us feel so welcome and for showing us around the farm, it was great to have some space and away time and the pods are fantastic for that.

Have you ever been glamping? If so where did you go?

NB: We were given a small discount in return for a blog post about our stay, however all opinions and pictures are my own.

The Big Sheep - A Fun Wooly Day Out

We first visited The Big Sheep when my son was about two years old, it was a great day out for us all and so when we went back down to Devon last week, The Big Sheep was high on our list of places to visit.  With their new roller coaster, The Big One now open, the children were excited at the prospect of not only seeing some animals but getting to go on some rides too.

First we headed to the barn, where several sheep had just given birth to some very tiny and helpless looking lambs, eyes still closed and still covered in blood, it was amazing to see these mama sheep just have a baby and then carry on looking for food, such a wonderful sight and a sign that spring is well and truly here.

There were other babies to see as well, including some goats, tiny super-cute piglets, collie pups and chicks. It was a great opportunity to get up close and personal, being able to feed the sheep and pet them. The baby goats were a particular favourite and they feel a lot softer than they look.

Afterwards, we headed up to the rides, opening at different times to allow the staff to man all of them, we first tried the swinging chairs, a classic ride and one which never ceases to impress the young or old. The Big One was closed until a bit later so we headed into the show arena to learn all about the different breeds of sheep they have at The Big Sheep.

Being bought out to their own theme tune, each sheep had their turn in the limelight and we got to hear all about their different qualities and how we use them, a very interesting show and being interactive it meant that it kept the attention of the children, a big thumbs up to Vaughn who did the show.

After the show had finished, we headed back to the rides, The Big One was finally open so we managed a few rounds on it. I have to say it was more thrilling than I had imagined and the back is definitely the place to be, it is much quicker and super exciting.

We then headed for a tractor ride, a great opportunity to sit down and take in a little more of the park, it was running a little late but that meant we got to stand with the sheep for a bit longer before our ride, there were some Llamas and Kune Kune pigs to see as well. Colin, who drove the tractor was funny and had the kids (and adults) entertained the whole way round.

Next, we headed for some lunch in the cafe, there is a good selection of food and we all found something we liked, there are plenty of spaces around the park for you to bring your own picnic though.

There were then beer tastings in the show barn, so there is plenty of entertainment for children and adults alike, we were a bit late for this so headed straight to the shop to just try some samples. They have their own brewery onsite, so if you fancy some local beer or cider then this is the place to stop.

We then headed back to the show barn to see a sheep being sheared, we had seen this a few times at open farm Sunday, however this was done in a way that it explained the process from start to finish. It was amazing to watch and equally amazing to see the end fleece, completely intact.

As the weather had taken a turn for the worse, we sheltered from the rain inside the large indoor play area, with a café for the adults and plenty of fun for the children, including vertical drop slides, ball pools and climbing areas.

Once the sun came back out we went on the rides a few more times, The Big One really was great and with a 90cm height limit (when accompanied by an adult) it was even suitable for our 5 year old daughter. To finish the day we watched the famous sheep race, the sheep run down the hill, jump over a few fences all with little wooly sheep attached to their backs, it's a fun end to the day and my daughter was most upset the pink one didn't win!

After we had left the park, we headed for some dinner, if you are in this area then I can highly recommend The Pig on the Hillat Westward Ho! We had the most amazing meal there and the staff were brilliant, a great end to the day and ideally located to finish off a day at the Big Sheep or visiting Westward Ho! to take in the sea front, play on the arcades and visit some of the shops.

NB: We were given a family ticket in return for the review, however all words and opinions are my own.