John will take you on a guided tour of the working farm; you will hear all about the farm animals, learn more about the crops that are grown and the diet of the animals. You�ll also see the large farm machinery, the tractors and automatic feed machines. You�ll also have the opportunity to ask John any thing you have ever wanted to know about the countryside and farming.
Near the tents in the Spinney Field, we have the hen coop with a flock of free range chickens. You can help care for the birds, letting them out of their house in the morning, and shutting them back in at dusk, and ensuring they have food and water. It is also important to remove the eggs from the nesting boxes each day, so you can help by collecting fresh eggs, and eat what you find!
Our thousand goats are milked twice a day, 365 days a year. Morning milking starts extremely early, so we'll suggest an afternoon visit to the dairy instead! A viewing gallery allows you to see everything that is happening whilst John explains the milking process, and you taste some of the fresh goats milk. Then you can go down to the milking parlour floor to try your own hand at attaching milking units to goats' teats.
Every week on a Tuesday and Saturday the children have the opportunity to meet and groom the legendary Shetland ponies, the oldest and hardiest breed in the British Isles. We have a herd of twelve ponies on the farm; we are a registered stud with the Shetland Pony Society, known as the Osbaston Stud. Â
A truly memorable holiday experience - a wonderful source of warmth, perfect for marshmallow -toasting, but also the relaxation that comes from just sitting around a fire, chatting and watching the flames.
We actively support birdlife, having five acres of ground purely dedicated to wild bird cover and being members of the RSPB Volunteer & Farmer Alliance. There are several species on the farm which fall into the �high conservation of concern� category; linnet, reed bunting, skylark, song thrush and yellow hammer. Buzzards, kestrel, hawks, tawny and barn owls are all resident, and the graceful swallows return home to us every year to breed. We also have game birds - pheasant and partridge.
We have a purpose-built nature hide located in the Spinney Wood. Keen observation and a curious spirit are needed, but the hide can enable you to view and study badgers and their fluffy little cubs in comfort, as it gives an excellent view of a large and very active badger sett in the wood. You can watch badgers and be entertained by their feeding, scratching and general playing and scampering about. For many people this is a magical experience.
Somewhere to explore: this is our reception, farm shop and information centre rolled into one. Read more about the Old Cow Shed.
New for 2013 is the children's indoor play area in one of the old stables, where they can get together, read, draw and play with toys or just 'adventure'. An 'Alice in Wonderland' door leads from the Old Cow Shed into the den.