There are lots of great farm park across the country, but the original is the Cotswold Farm Park. Joe Henson, the father of Countryfile star Adam Henson opened the gates to the farm in 1971, with admission charges used to raise the profile and support the survival of rare breeds.
Many years later, the Cotswold Farm Park is still going strong and makes for a really fantastic family day out.
There’s absolutely lots to keep the kids occupied and it’s really interesting for grown ups too. Check out the daily schedule when you arrive and you’ll find everything from milking demonstrations to meeting the farmyard animals. During the lambing season, you’ll also get a chance at bottle feeding which is really special.
The experience barn is a great way to get up close to the smaller residents on the farm with the chance for children to hold chicks and rabbits. There are larger animals from goats, to pigs and cows in the animal barn. My kids were fascinated looking at the most adorable three day old piglets when we last visited.
The rare breeds trail around the farm makes a lovely walk suitable for all ages and you can climb up a viewing tower at the top and look down over the farm park. The goats are super friendly and always on the look out for some treats which you can buy when you arrive.
A trip to a farm park wouldn’t be the same without a tractor ride. Leaving regularly and lasting around 25 minutes, you get a great tour around the farm from a friendly driver with lots of fun facts.
As well as all the animal and farm experiences on offer, there’s lots more to keep the kids occupied and suitable for a wide range of ages. My kids absolutely loved the huge inflatable bouncy pillows. They have two, one for over 6s and one for under 6. It’s amazing how long they can keep on bouncing for! Enter the maze if you dare and complete the challenges as you work your way through.
For cooler days or if you need to escape the sun, there’s plenty indoors too. The soft play for little ones is a perfect size. Older ones will absolutely love practicing their driving skills on electric tractors. Trying to get them off is the main challenge! The Adventure Barn has 3 fantastic themed play areas; Barefoot Beach, Forest Floor and Construction Corner. With a seating area for grown ups, you get the chance to sit back and relax but still be able to keep a beady eye on your children.
Cotswold Farm Park has a lovely cafe restaurant with a great selection of good quality food from snacks to sandwiches and hot meals. There are also plenty of picnic tables outside if you’re bringing your own food and a great spot to eat on hay bales inside a large tepee tent too.
There’s so much to do at Cotswold Farm Park, it makes a great full family day out, or why not combine it with a camping trip and stay at the adjoining campsite.
