It's Open Farm Sunday this Weekend

Last week my #CountryKids post was all about our preview of Open Farm Sunday, where we got to visit Elm Tree Farm on Sunday 17th May. Well since then, since last Friday, I put my video vlog together of our day there. Last week I only shared Aaron falling on the chicken wire, but very soon after did the proper vid, which I love:

It's been a week all about farms on my YouTube channel, as the above spurred me on to edit our footage of Folly Farm Wales, which was gathering dust on my computer, what with us having been there the last week of April whilst we were at the lovely Bluestone Wales.

We haven't been anywhere this week worthy of a #CountryKids blog post, but my country kid is a very outdoorsie boy, so we HAVE been to the park every day after school, even staying there till 20:30 one night. Yes, I was exhausted.

But, back to Open Farm Sunday (which you can follow on Twitter and Instagram via #OFS15), all you have to do is go here and see where your nearest participating farm is:

http://www.farmsunday.org/ofs12b/visit/findfarm.eb

You even get to dictate how far you are prepared to travel.

It's this Sunday 7th June.

Liska x

Find other country kids blog posts by clicking on this badge:

  

Open Farm Sunday 2015 Preview and our visit to Elm Tree Farm

Open Farm Sunday is coming up on Sunday 7th June 2015 and we were invited to a preview, so that we could tell you all about Open Farm Sunday and why you and your families should join in the fun.

We spent the day at Elm Tree Farm on Sunday 17th May 2015. It is a private farm that is not normally open to the public and focuses on special needs projects; however there are LOTS of activities on Open Farm Sunday and the public are welcome from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday 7th June.

The farm, located on Park Road in Stapleton

BS16 1AA next to the cricket ground, will be open to visitors from 11am-4pm. There is parking on-site and entry is free as part of the national Open Farm Sunday scheme.For more information, contact keily.elvin@brandontrust.org or phone the farm on 0117 958 6206.

The first thing we did was visit the chickens. Aaron spent what felt like ages feeding them grass. They're also hand fed corn, and their delicious free range eggs are sold to locals. The lovely lady who showed us around had to keep turning the electric fence off each time Aaron went back to the chickens again and again. It is there to deter foxes. It didn't deter this fox though LOL and thankfully the fence was off at this point and neither Aaron nor the chickens were hurt. It's only now I can see the funny side:

Clearly Aaron needs to be a little less free range. Although to be fair he is not normally this clumsy.

Aaron was rather taken with the farm cat. As you can see below, the chickens yield a decent amount of eggs.

We spent a good couple of hours exploring the farm with our personal tour guide and we were made very welcome. I can imagine the farm will be so exciting Sunday 7th June, as they have many plans to make it a wonderful day.

We loved looking at the newborn lambs:

Thankfully there was another boy there exploring the farm, and he and Aaron went everywhere together, which was wonderful to see. Also meant he stayed interested and wasn't bored just with us adults.

What I LOVE about Elm Tree Farm is it is a functioning farm, not just laid on for visitors. It has a very warm authentic feel, which I think you'd love if you visit:

My Aaron who was fox for the day, chased these ducks around until we told him off (you'd be forgiven for thinking they are geese - they're not). Before we stopped him doing it, it was so interesting to see how the ducks would chat about Aaron and stare at him. Felt like I was in a story book:

The ducks continue to keep a beady eye on Aaron:

I have LOTS and LOTS of footage of our day at the farm, and desperately need to edit it into a montage or vlog but just haven't had chance yet. REALLY must do that this weekend.

Aaron was so happy after his visit to the farm. Very at peace too. Time in nature is great:

Where: Elm Tree Farm,

Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1AA

Time: 11 am to 4 pm

Contact: keily.elvin@brandontrust.org

Activities: Take a walk around the farm to see the animals, make a model out of vegetables or maybe create your own bug hotel and more! There will be a pig roast and other refreshments, a plant and produce sale and our friendly team will be there to answer all of your questions.

I have copied the above from their poster, but from talking to them on Sunday 17th May 2015 I know that they have a LOT more than that planned, like for example they have a foal, and on the day you get to compete to name him. If your name is chosen you win a FAB prize.

You can follow: Open Farm Sunday on Twitter

or on Facebook: Open Farm Sunday on Facebook

or get more information here: Open Farm Sunday 2015

Tonight at midnight I am going to hook this blog post up with #CountryKids