Hands-on farm experience at Ladyland Farm

by | Jun 16, 2014

Ladyland Farm in Horley, Surrey, calls itself ‘the living classroom’. Open during term time for school visits and birthdays only, it aims to create a hands-on farm experience geared specifically to the ages of the visitors.

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For the reception children on their school trip, this meant marching around the farm with Farmer Jackie whilst singing farm related songs. Each type of animal was visited and fed, along with interesting facts being told and questions asked and answered, capped off with a tractor ride courtesy of Farmer Philip!

And how could you not fall in love with these:

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The farm itself, set against the backdrop of a Tudor farmhouse, is no longer a working farm. The staff are qualified teachers, who provide lively and interesting guided tours, in accordance with the National Curriculum. They can take visitors back to farming during Tudor times or the Second World War with their history re-enactment or they can cover science topics like food chains and evolution, for example. Birthday parties include feeding the animals and collecting the eggs, etc.

The children had an amazing time and I would thoroughly recommend it. The staff are dedicated professionals and are fantastic with the children. There is also an exceptional level of hygiene that all visitors must adhere to.

I’m writing about this visit because Ladyland Farm is open to the public during the school summer holidays. So if you live in the greater London, Surrey or Kent areas then I urge you to take it in to consideration as somewhere to visit during August.

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14 Comments

  1. Hannah | MakeDo&Push

    Oh gosh, this place sounds amazing!! That baby rabbit is adorable!

    Popping over from #MagicMoments xx

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      It was so tiny – fit in the palm of your hand!

      Reply
  2. Emma T (@ETusty)

    It’s great that they can reenact different eras as well as just introducing animals to the children. Looks like a lovely place to visit #magicmoments

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      Yes the re enactment days sound really good actually. They said that farming in the Second World War was very similar to back in Tudor times and they can show farming techniques from those times.

      Reply
  3. fashion-mommy

    Oh My. It looks just gorgeous there, and take a look at that baby rabbit – super cute!

    #MagicMoments

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      It’s a good time of year to go because of all the baby animals they have.

      Reply
  4. Madaline

    This looks like such an amazing experience for the kids! That little bunny – SO precious!

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      I tweeted another pic of it earlier – fitting in the palm of a hand. So tiny!

      Reply
  5. Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk)

    I really wanted my son to experience this. We went to a farm before but he is too young. Now that he is 4 I want him to feel how it is to touch & be with animals again =) #MagicMoments

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      It would be worth mentioning it to your school or preschool, if you aren’t too far.

      Reply
  6. Coombe Mill

    This sounds lovely! We’ve got freshly hatched chicks here at the moment too!

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      They are gorgeous aren’t they? I was surprised at the number of children who didn’t want to hold them though!

      Reply
  7. hayleyfromhome

    Oh gosh, tiny little animals are always so cute! Sounds like a great day out and it looks like you had some lovely weather too.

    Reply
    • Nicola Young

      We were lucky with the weather. Beautiful sunshine but not too hot. I could have put that rabbit in my pocket!

      Reply

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