Meuh. (Bocketts Farm Park)

Member Name: peel.rebekah

Product:	Bocketts Farm Park
Date:	23/09/01 (949 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lots of baby fluffy things to coo over.

Disadvantages: Cow smells.

Animal noises ran a close second to Victor's first daring attempts at getting himself understood by the scarily big outside world; but being a boy, another phrase was coined, a phrase whose consequences mummy has had to live with ever since....CAR.

Kinda beside the point, but now you know my first born's first proper word (and yes, he can say it in French as well), you can understand my keenness at diverting Victor's attention from big, noisy, greasy engines, and maybe, just maybe, redirecting him in the way of small fluffy bunny rabbits and baa lambs (like redirecting him in the way of Tao, but the baby version...ermm, ignore me).

So where was I? Oh yes, just plodding around Surrey with a continuously grubby and oiled up child, needing and searching for a serene moment or two.

And whilst we were there, from the depths of grandma's suburban insights came the suggestion of Bocketts Farm. I was sold just at the mere mention of baa baas, moo moos (meuh meuhs if you want me to be a good bilingual mother) and neigh neighs...the proposed pot of tea and toilet facilities (oh, have you lot forgotten I'm four months pregnant?) were in no way a deciding factor.

Bocketts Farm Park is (from the blurb): Set in beautiful countryside on the edge of the North Downs, a working family farm with old and modern breeds of animals.

Without the blurb, I can tell you that the surrounding billowing landscape is pretty in that Downy, English sort of way, and that on arrival that family feeling is really rather apparent; the kinship even seems to run wild with the free range laying chickens that cluck at your entrance.

While we're talking about entrances: Let me instill a certain amount of faith in you by mentioning that Bocketts farm still have foot and mouth killing nasty disinfectant stuff that you have to walk in (like a big marshy sponge - much to Victor's amusement) before you get to the proper muddy farm
bit of it all.

Once you're at the proper muddy farm bit of it all, you may notice a rather large and friendly work horse, whose name escapes me, but enjoyed snorting at Victor...in fact this is one of the nicest features at Bocketts farm, and damn me to hell for forgetting his/her name, as each animal is heavily personalised with a notice at the front of their enclosure. This tells mummies and daddies Rosie's name, weight, age and origin...just so we don't feel stupid.

By this point there's no turning back: There IS a free tea room and shop, but one glimpse of llamas and mewing lambikins and Victor is off. Ho hum, entrance fee and seemingly mandatory animal feed at the ready.

This is the wonderfully relaxing bit, as small child wanders from extremely friendly farm animal to extremely friendly farm animal - No fears of gnawed or nibbled fingers, angered butts or tearful toddlers - all animals seem to be well rehearsed in the fine art of being sweet and cuddly.

This part of the farm is covered and houses most of the petting animals within their enclosures: There are a couple of llamas at the front, and then the more mainstream sheep and goats (although the breeds seem to be rather varied and even exotic at times). To the side are smaller animals that go meep: Lots of Peter Rabbits, guinea pigs, chipmunks and stuff...they ain't that interested in the children at the moment, but trust me, they'll get there come-uppance later on in the day. Further over to the side, one of the many children's play areas: This area has a trampoline for slightly older children (but worry ye not, one for the little-uns is located outside), a couple of swings (including a hammock design one for really ickle babies) and a nice and sturdy climbing frame. There are usually a couple of general activities in this area - while I was there there was face painting, badge making and much merriness.

Outside this enclosed part
of the farm (and try to notice the fat sleeping pot belly pig on your way will you?) are many wondrous things: There is a rather large shed full of hay blocks and slidey bits - a good idea for losing slightly older children in for at least an hour, the general stables (with more notes on Bunty, Apple Blossom and Marigold), a donkey or two (gee, I'm just a sucker for a donkey), a rather docile owl (whose young handler will be more than happy to let you and your brood oooh and aaarh over), and Victor's favourite...but of course, a derivative of our one and only true love...the TRACTORS.

Not real ones of course (although real defunct ones are scattered across the farm for all those budding mountaineers and farmers), but about ten smaller pretend ones with pedals, all contained within a circuit, and rabidly bumping into one another under child power...except for Victor's, of course, as he's too young to grasp the peddle concept (plus his legs are way too short), and so therefore moving solely under pregnant mummy power...this way I was able to convince myself that the tea room and the full cooked breakfast was a much deserved reward for my hard work.

After a small interlude of eating way too much, we ventured back. Further out the rear of the farm are several large play areas, picnic areas and fields with lots of cows in them...I can't remember too much about this bit of the farm, as after Victor repeatedly fell over on the trampoline and made a little girl cry, it started raining and we all rushed back inside.

But this is when the real fun started: The farm also provides various other entertainments (not all off which myself and Victor got to partake in - amongst the sadly missed was the pig racing), and the highlight of these has to be the every half-an-hourly small animal handling sessions (although the goat milking caused much amusement when two little terrors decided to grab at Mrs Goat's (I assume she was married
) underpass, making her squeal and kick her bucketful over).

Two rather sweet and young women sat all the children (and parents) down in a little haystack semi circle and proceeded to grab hidden small fluffy things from their warm and cosy beds - thrusting these trusting tiny bodies into the hands of keen and overly eager toddlers. There were a few squeals (from both quarters, I hasten to add), but calm was maintained by sweet, young women and no animals were hurt during the making of...I even got to hold a chicken.

What wasn't on the agenda for the day we were there (apparently they are available at busier times of the year - we went just after school started again) were the trailer and pony rides. I'm also informed by flyers that there are craft demonstrations held regularly...but if it's a toss up between thatching and tractors, I think I know which one Victor will plump for.

The shop is everything you would expect of a place like this...maybe a few less toys and a few more 'gifts' for Surrey mothers to buy, but overall nicely presented with a good range of postcards and the like. The tea room is superb, it really is: While I was in there it was absolute mayhem as children ran everywhere (there is a play area against the back wall) and servers were run off their feet (literally). The menu is good: Sandwiches, seriously hearty Ploughman's and a wide selection of hot meals, as well as good value children's meals and my nice pot of tea....toilets aren?t that far away, either.

The absolutely brilliant news about Bocketts is that it is open ALL the time. Ok, not December 25/26th and January 1st, but every other damn day, AND they do the seasonal stuff with turkey dinners and Santa's Grotto, AND they even do birthday parties as well.

Well I'm impressed even if you're not.

There is a warning notice displayed throughout the farm explaining why pregnant women shouldn't b
e touching the goats, sheep, kids or lambsm so take head and always was your and your child's hands.

Getting there is pretty simple (and I'm doing it from Paris so no excuses): It's sign posted from the M25 (exit at Junction 9 and it's about five minutes away), or just off the A246 at Fetcham (clearly sign posted). Nearest train station isn't that near (Leatherhead), but a bus (408) runs from Kingston and Guilford. Admission is 3.95 for an adult, 3.50 children 3-17 and 2.60 for 2 and under. These rates are likely to be reduced during weekdays and winter, so check with them before:

www.bockettsfarm.co.uk.

Well, that was a good day spent: Victor learnt how to say cock-a-doodle-do and I got to hold a chicken. May there be many more days like it.

Summary: