Spring is just about here, and with it the promise of brighter days, a host of daffodils, birdsong….and ALL the chocolate Easter eggs you can possibly cram in! Good times!
One of our favourite activities (apart from eating the chocolate eggs) in the run up to the Easter period is witnessing live lambing and feeding. There’s just something so grounding about watching new life come into the world and learning about the wonder of nature. We never miss it!
If you want in on the lamb snuggling, here’s our top places to go locally with the kids:
Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough
Blaze farm opens its lambing shed on Saturday 4th April this year. We highly recommend visiting, we have been here for the last few years and it’s just an amazing event.
For a £1.50 entry fee you can enter the barn viewing gallery as many times as you like and maybe even witness a lamb being born before your eyes. Farmer Marshall is on hand to answer any questions you might have and to make sure all the lambs and ewes are well looked after.
You can also don a disposable apron and get up close and personal with some slightly older lambs and give them a good old cuddle. This makes for some lovely photo opportunities and the kids really love it. It can get busy though so you might have to queue to handle the lambs but Blaze Farm also has plenty to offer while you wait. Why not grab an ice cream, as Blaze Farm stock a wide range of their award winning Hilly Billy ice cream which is all made on the farm using milk from the Peak District. Check out the specials board for limited edition flavours.
Ice cream not your thing? Then the café also serves a great selection of hot meals, drinks and snacks.Stroll along one of the nature trails – spot the different wildlife and take in the breathtaking views through the meadows and woodland.
Don’t forget to visit the other animals, and play on the tractor. The tunnel/tube slide is a massive hit with my boys but be warned you do come out at a fair pace and it’s not kind to your bottom when you land…and yes, I am speaking from personal experience!
Please note: dogs are not allowed at the farm during April.
Follow Blaze Farm on Facebook for updates.
Amerton Farm, Stafford
Head to Amerton Farm this Easter and experience bottle feeding the lambs!
Lamb feeding is scheduled daily at 10:30am, 13:30pm and 16:00pm. Running from Saturday 4th April to Sunday 19th April.
Lamb feeding is included in the admission price along with chicks handling, petting the bunnies and even pony rides.
Visit the other farm animals including cows, pigs, horses & ponies, sheep, alpacas, chickens, ducks, and donkeys which are all housed in a purpose built building and paddocks behind Billy’s Farm Barn.
Amerton have a range of activities this Easter depending on animals and conditions, such as meet the rabbits and guinea pigs, bottle feeding calves and watching chicks hatch etc. You can feed most animals with carrots too.
If your child loves climbing and exploring then Billy’s Farm Barn is the perfect place for them to run off some energy. The bespoke wooden play area, themed on the local village of Stowe by Chartley is great for any child who is a little adventurer. There are also coin operated quad bikes and ride on tractors available.
If that isn’t enough to keep your little ones entertained then there is also the Amerton Railway on site. It is approximately 1 mile long and runs behind the fields of Amerton Farm, each trip takes about 10 minutes. Additional fees apply.
Pre book your visit here.
National Forest Adventure Farm, Burton-upon-Trent
Every Spring (mid February to Easter) see lambs born in the Lambing Live tent and help bottle feed the cade lambs at Nation Forest Adventure Farm.
During the Easter holidays the farm also has lots of Easter themed activities planned to make your visit eggstra special.
Start your journey onboard the Easter Eggspress tractor ride, go into the woods and find the Easter Bunny who’s giving out chocolate – ooh yummy!
There are also lots of indoor and outdoor play activities, including sand pit area, bouncing pillows and soft play.
Picnics are welcomed and there is also a restaurant on site that serves a good range of hot and cold food.
If you can’t wait until Easter then tune in to their EweTube here and see if you can spot any new arrivals.
Book your tickets to visit here.
The Farm at Tatton Park, Knutsford
Will you be lucky enough to see the lambs being born? Head over to The Farm to share in the excitement of lambing week and enjoy informative talks by the farm staff on the imminent signs of lambing, and how they look after sheep during this extra special time.
This year we have synchronised our ewes to lamb within a 7 day period. The results of our sheep scanning are in and we’re very pleased! Our ewes are expecting 41 lambs in total – 6 singles, 16 sets of twins and even 1 set of triplets!
Because The Farm know how many lambs are expected, staff can give each ewe the correct care and feed for the number of babies she is carrying, this ensures the best possible results for all the animals.
Lambing week will operate 12pm – 5pm daily (last entry 4pm). Closed Monday.
Prices:
Normal Farm admission applies – Child £6, Adult £8
National Trust members are eligible for half price entry.
£7 vehicle park entry applies to all visitors.
Book advance tickets here.
Going to be away for the Easter break? Look no further, I’ve found a couple of extra events for you.
Broomfield Hall, Derby
See the new born lambs at Broomfield Hall on Lambing Sunday! Entrance is by pre paid ticket only as this is a limited numbers event. As well as the new arrivals, the Animal Care Unit will be open for visitors to see animals including porcupine, wallabies, donkeys, meerkats, reptiles and much more.
There are lots of activities planned for the whole family to enjoy, including:
- Animal feeding
- Animal handling
- Craft activities
- Face painting
- Walk through wallaby exhibit
- Plant sales
- A nature trail
- Animal photo opportunities
- New rodent and fish room
- Quizzes and games
- Charity stalls
Refreshments are available to purchase on the day
Owing to the popularity of the event in previous years, parking is extremely limited.
Prices:
- £10 Family Ticket (includes up to two adults and up to three children under 16 year old)
- £5 Adult Ticket
- £3 Child Ticket (under 16 years old
- £2.50 Car Parking Ticket
Croots Farm Shop and Café, Duffield
Croots are holding one of their most popular events of the year, Lambing Sunday! This year the event will take place on 26th April.
Pet the newborn lambs (see a birth if you are lucky!) and meet the Shire horses and foals, as well as enjoying a classic Croots BBQ for lunch!
Free entry. Open 11am to 3.30pm.
Please Note:
Some infections can be passed from sheep and other animals to humans.
If a pregnant woman becomes infected, it could harm her and her unborn baby’s health.
If you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant, avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season, which runs from January to April.
So, have I missed any Easter lambing events off the list? Let me know of any others in the comments section!
All images are my own unless otherwise credited and must not be reproduced without permission.
Dirt, Diggers and Dinosaurs 