Looking for a day out during last Easter weekend, we came upon a leaflet for this Children’s Fun Farm outside this popular seaside town in North Yorkshire.
It’s amazing really how many of these places have sprung up in recent years, and I’m surprised there’s not more, because there’s no doubt about it, children love animals.
There is a saying in this part of Yorkshire that I’m sure you’re familiar with.
“Where there’s muck there’s brass.”
After our party of 6 adults and two 2 year olds visited Playdale Farm Park I’ve come up with a new one.
“Where there’s grass there’s brass.
I’m referring of course to those little white bags of pellets, that are made out of compressed grass that they sell at these farms, which cost little or nothing to produce, but are a must have for the kids.
My message to farmers all over the world in these supposed tough times in the business is this.
Open the doors of your farm to the general public and charge around £6 each for everyone coming through the gate, except for children under 2 which can get in for free.
Use one of your many fields for a car park and make a big deal about FREE PARKING.
This means that a party of 6 adults and 2 two year olds will give you £48 and if they purchase a little white bag grass pellets, it will bring you £50 plus.
Playdale Farm Park is situated near the village of Cayton, just outside Scarborough.
The Animal Barn and what they call interactive paddocks are designed to give the kids an opportunity to see farm animals in a natural farm environment, and of course feed most of them with those little green grass pellets.
This year, in 2016, it will open again at Easter until late summer.
Farm animals are the usual suspects. Rabbits,Hens, Cocks, Turkeys Goats, Sheep, big fat Sows and teeny weeney Piglets, Horses, Ponies and Donkeys.
The not so usual are Alpacas, Guinea Pigs (which the children can hold under supervision), and in the lambing season the children are encouraged to feed the lambs by passing the milk bottle between them.
I was personally fascinated by the small heated hatchery and watching the tiny chicks breaking out of their shells.
When the little ones get tired of the animals there is a popular pedal go-kart track, a frisby golf course (difficult when it’s windy), and what they call a metropolis play area of slides and climbing obstacles surrounded by picnic tables for those who bring their own pies and sarnies.
The Farm would be less enjoyable when it rains, but there is plenty of places to stay dry including an under cover picnic area, a barn with plenty of straw bales to jump off and run around and while the grown ups are doing that,there is a big indoor sandpit with buckets, spades and sit on diggers for the youngsters.
Special rates are available for school and nursery groups and you can arrange your kiddies birthday party there as well.
On sight there are plenty of toilets, hand washing facilities, a cafe offering simple meals, hot and cold drinks and a small shop with a good mix of quality goods and pocket money items. Wheelchair access is good.
We spent a very enjoyable two and a half hours at Playdale Farm Park and on reflection, despite the grass pellets, it was good value.
