If you go down to the woods today at Tatton Park Home Farm you’ll be sure of a big surprise! 

April 19, 2012

Visitors to the farm since it opened for high season at the end of March have been delighted by a fantastic new woodland play trail.  Part of the farm’s woodland has been transformed with a clatterbridge, a bubble tunnel, wobble boards and balance beams.

The woodland play trail is just one of many significant farm developments which have been implemented over the last few months. 

A duck pond and new animal paddocks line the approach to the woods, would are also now home to den building activities and a magical woodland area for storytelling on Sundays from May to the end of September.

To complement the woodland storytelling area, the pigeon bothy in the stableyard has been transformed into an indoor story room, with farm inspired books and colourful farmyard murals on the walls.

The newly renovated milking parlour or ‘shippon’ will be a hub of activity with daily milking demonstrations throughout the summer holidays. Staff are also planning to give demonstrations of butter churning and cheese making in the future. 

In July a maize maze will open for our younger visitors to help ‘Farmer Egerton’ find his missing sheep.

The Natural Childhood Report by naturalist, author and TV reporter Stephen Moss demonstrates that increasingly children are losing touch with the natural world.   The National Trust has recently launched a two-month inquiry into the benefits of the outdoors and developing ways to engage children with the outdoors. Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said: “Getting outdoors and closer to nature has all sorts of benefits for our children. It keeps them fit, they can learn about the world around them and most of all it’s fun.” 

Considerations of the farm’s historic and natural environment have been integral to the development plans.   Farm manager Jayne Chapman said: “Our key aim is to provide visitors with a longer and more enriching farm experience.  The new activities are already proving extremely popular and it’s satisfying to know all the hard work of the last few months is paying off! It’s wonderful to see our visitors, young and old, loving the new areas - there is now so much more to experience!”

To celebrate these fantastic new developments there is a special weekend of activities from Saturday, 21 to Sunday, 22 April.  Visitors will be able to experience the new play trail, take part in willow weaving workshops and den building (there will be a prize for the best den!).  They will also be able to watch chainsaw carving demonstrations by local carver, Tim Burgess and even have their faces painted.

Farm New Activities: Celebration Weekend

Saturday April, 21 and Sunday April 22, noon-5pm (last entry 4pm).

Come and enjoy many new fantastic activities now included in a farm visit including a woodland play trail, den building area, new maze experience and story room. Special activities take place throughout the weekend.  Normal opening times and prices apply.

Home Farm opening times and prices

The farm is open for high season (until October 28, 2012) Tuesday to Sunday from noon-5pm (last entry 4pm). 

High season prices for single attraction entry: adult £5.50, child £3.50 (aged four to 15 years of age), family £14.50 (two adults and up to three children). 

Totally Tatton Ticket(entry to three attractions: mansion, gardens and farm): Adult £10, child (aged four to 15) £5, family (two adults and up to three children) £25.

National Trust members pay 50 per cent entry to the farm.  Park entry charge of £5 per car applies to all.

Please visit our website http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/ or call 01625 374400 for more information.

For further information about this release contact:

Eleanor Gorsuch, Marketing Department                                                          

Tel: 01625 374447 / Email: eleanor.gorsuch@cheshireeast.gov.uk

http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/

Tatton Park is managed and financed by Cheshire East Council on behalf of the National Trust.

This impressive historic estate receives in the region of 750,000 visitors every year all of whom come to enjoy its Georgian mansion, Tudor Old Hall, award- winning gardens and 1930s rare breeds farm.  The 1,000-acre deer park is home to red and fallow deer and the estate also boasts speciality shops, adventure playground, restaurant and year-round events programme.

Tatton Park is one of Cheshire’s leading Gardens of Distinction.

Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction programme celebrates the richness and diversity of Cheshire’s horticultural heritage and green spaces.  Building on the success of Cheshire’s Year of Gardens 08 marketing programme, the project aims to continue to achieve significant impact for the regional tourism industry from local, national and international markets.  For more information visit www.visitcheshire.com/gardens

Find out more about the National Trust outdoors initiative here.

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the North West. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment.

ERDF in the North West is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government – for further information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf.