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Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom (Shropshire)
by karenlovesmoney
=Hoo Farm Animal kingdom=
=General Information=
-Admission Prices (2012 Season - 17th March to 31st October)
Adults £7.75
O.A.P.s: £7.25
Children (2-14 yrs): £7.25 (including a FREE return ticket for full paying children*)
Under 2 years: FREE
Family Tickets: 2 Adults / O.A.P.s & 3 Children: ... £35.00
Please note. All children must be accompanied by an adult on entrance to the farm.
1st Dec - 24th Dec 2012
At present the prices are not displayed - This period includes visits to Father Christmas as an additional cost.
Season Tickets
Adults: £40.00
O.A.P.s:£38.00
Children: £38.00
=Address=
Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom
Preston on the Weald Moors
Telford, Shropshire TF6 6DJ
Call us:
01952 677917
=Hoo Farm=
Hoo Farm is a family run business and is run by the Dorrell family who have lived there since 1988, I will say how times as changed as a very young child in the early 1970s, Hoo Farm, as it is now called was owned by my Great Aunty. This is certainly a vast improvement. The farm itself is over 100 years old.
=Our Visit=
We visited at Easter, this year, there was 2 adults, 2 children, the farm is over 32 acres, and everything is well laid out.
=Disabled facilities=
There are full disabled toilets , and the site is suitable for those with mobility problems.
=Arrival=
When you arrive your given a map of the area, and on th reverse are some instructions and also a colourful section telling you what is on and where this is.
There are chalk boards around the farm, telling you what activities are on and the times.
For example, at 11am is bottle feeding the baby animals, there are additional events such as goat racing and sheep racing, which I can highly recommend, certainly an entertaining day out.
The staff were brillaint and ensured that all the children got chance to feed the animals, and it was 1 bottle to 2 children. There were baby goats and lambs, there so cute.
=Animal Feed=
You can purchase animal feed from the shop, so that as your going around you can feed the other animals.
=Other Animals=
To say that we were spoilt in terms of animals, would be an understatement, there are Llamas, Alpacas, Ostriches, Goats, calves, sheep and Chickens to name but a few. You can feed all these, the goats are greedy and would sit there and be fed all day if they had there way!
=Trails=
There is a Fairy Trail, woodland walk, which included examples of how a badger set would be laid out and a rabbit warren.
=Additional animals=
You can pop and see insects, tortoises, snakes and iguanas there are also parrots, owls, ducks, foxes, and more to see.
=On-site Cafe=
we ventured in for a drink, as we had taken a picnic with us, but I have to say for an attraction I was very impressed with the prices, as they are not what I class as "tourist prices".
=Picnic areas=
There are picnic areas around the farm, these are away from the animals, as they ask you not to feed the animals with human food as it can make the animals poorly.
=Play areas=
There are go carts, 3 wheel bikes, play area including swings, merry gorounds, see-saws, trampolines.
=Additional Costs=
The bouncy castle is an additional cost of 50p per child, and they have about 5 minutes, on there, also the go-carts, which are £1.00. There is plenty of free activities, that if you did say no it would not really be the be all and end all.
There are pony rides which are £3. These are excellent value, and highly recommended by both children.
=Toilets=
They were clean, and well maintained.
=The Whole Visit=
This was an amazing day out, and when we got back to the car, bit my daughter and her friend asked could they go back again, and I was pleased to say YES...
=Friendly=
Everyone was so friendly, if you had any questions they would help, literally nothing was too much trouble.
=Additional Events=
During the year there are events held at Hoo Farm, so it is worth checking the website, as I know that sheep racing is not available every day.
=Would I recommend=
I cannot highly recommend this place enough, I would everyone should go at least once.
=Christmas Trees=
It still sells 1000's of Christmas trees every year which are all freshly dug and cut.
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Park Hall Countryside Experience (Oswestry)
by karenlovesmoney
=Park Hall CountrySide Experience=
Park Hall is located just off the A5, just before Oswestry, near to Gobowen Hospital, which is better known as Oswestry Orthapedic Hospital.
=Park Hall=
Park Hall is a 130 acre farm, which has Victorian farm building, a Victorian school and a Welsh Guards museum, a cafe, an indoor play ... area, wooden outdoor play area, indoor sand pits.
=Getting there=
If you travelling from Shrewsbury - you would be there in 20/30 minutes, Telford, about 30 minutes, 5 mins from Oswestry.
=Address and Details=
Park Hall Countryside Experience
Park Hall Farm,
Burma Road,
Oswestry
Shropshire
SY11 4AS
Tel: 01691 671123.
Email: info@parkhallfarm.co.uk
=Admission Prices 2012=
Adult - £6.95 (annual pass £28.00)
Child (age 2 to 16) £6.95 (child and consessions £26.00)
Student £6.95
OAP and Disabled £6.45
Family (2 adults + 2 children) £27.00 (annual pass (£97.00)
Group discount - available
=Opening Times=
30th March - 30th Sept 2012 10am to 5pm
=Schools=
A lot of the schools in the Shropshire area use Park hall for their trips, I have been 2 or 3 times with my daughter whilst she was in nursery though to the key stage 1 of her school. We're lucky we live within 30 minutes of the attraction.
=Disabled Access=
There is full disabled access to the farm, and disabled toilets, its quite level to get around.
=Itinery=
This is totally optional, but you arrive you are given a sheet with all the times of the attractions and events that are on, if you want to go and see one element and not the other the choice is yours, everything is clearly signposted.
(this is taken from the website to give an idea of the days activities)
11.15am Meet Charm (Heavy Horses)
11.30am Small Animals (Rabbits etc)
11.45am Tractor Ride
12.00pm Lamb Feeding
12.30pm Pig Petting
12.45pm Tractor Ride
1.00pm Hand Milking (once only)
1.15pm Parlour Milking (once only)
1.30pm Meet Charm (Heavy Horses)
2.00pm Tractor Ride
2.00pm Pony Grooming
2.15pm Meet the Small Animals (Rabbits etc.)
2.15pm Tractor Ride
2.30pm Tractor Ride
2.45pm Meet Charm(Heavy horses)
3.00pm Pony Grooming
3.15pm Lamb Feeding
3.30pm Tractor Ride
3.30pm Pig Petting
3.45pm Meet the Small Animals (Rabbits etc.)
=What I liked re Itinery=
With some of the events they are once a day, whilst the others are 2 or 3 times, it gives you the freedom to pick and choose.
=My Highlights=
Bottle feeding the lambs, you sit in a barn, and they bring a lamb around and you get chance to hold the bottle and stroke the lambs, (big kids as well can do this), regardless of whether there is 5 people or 30 people, you all get the chance to try this.
Small Animals - For this you sit on church pews, and the staff will put a blanket on your lap and the children hold rabbits, or gerbils. Then I had the I want...
The Sandpit - This was my daughters and her friends best bit of the day, they had the time of their lives in there, there is 2 quite good sized sandpits, although it is the very fine sand that doesn't make sandcastles.
=Outside picnic area - wooden activities=
If you want to get away from it, there is a field that has some wooden climbing frames and activities, there is a picnic area there.
=Inside Picnic area=
In the main barn (Warrens barn), there is some of the indoor play equipment, the cafe and just off here is some of the animals and the sandpit, but there is a large picnic area indoors as well,
=Quad bikes=
For an additional charge there is a quad bikes for children, but my daughter thought they were boys toys.
=Overall verdict=
Not once during the day did I get the famous words "I'm bored", literally the compete opposiate, as we stopped at the cafe for dinner, it was really well priced, the kids had a lunch box, which was sandwich, crisps, cake, drink, myself and his lordship, we have pasty and soup, and with drinks, we had change from £20.00. the kids literally chucked their food down their necks and moaned at us to hurry up.
=Time Wise=
We got there at 10.30am,and literally had to drag them away at 4.30pm. they did not want to go.
=Tractor Rides=
They loved the tractor rides, as you had a circular tour around the farm.
=Animals=
From the horses to the cattle, to the lambs, they wanted to take every animal home.
=Museum=
The museum is dedicated to the Royal welsh guards and admission is included in the price, within the museum there was a mock up of a prison cell, the kids loved it all.
=My thoughts=
In this day and age, for a child to absolutely love a place like my daughter and her friend does with this farm is brilliant, the hard work that goes on behind the scenes is unbelievable, and infront as they say, nothing is too much trouble, everyone is so friendly, and its a wide variety of attractions, makes this a value for money day out.
My daughter's particular favourites are the lamb feeding (where every child gets to hold the bottle at least once and stroke the lambs, no matter how busy it is) and Meet the Small Animals, where you get to hold the rabbits.
There is also an inside and outside play area, and the tractor ride also takes you to a woodland play area. Refreshments are available from the farm shop, aswell as a good range of toys and gifts from the gift shop. The gift shop area also sells animal feed and has an area with two playstations/xbox to keep the older children occupied.
There is a motorised vehicle section to teach your children to drive (with road markings and traffic lights) and a small off road course where they can drive landrovers. For children over 6, there are quad bikes to try out, small versions for up to 12 years old and full size for over 12's and adults.
The admission prices up until the end of March are £5.75 for adults and £5.50 for children (2-16), free for under 2's. April sees a slight increase in price up to £6.25 for adults and £5.75 for children, but still remains free for under 2's.
I can happily say that this is one of the best places I have visited which caters for children of all ages. My daughter is only just coming up for 2 years old but even at such a young age, there is plenty for her to get involved in, and she loves the fact that she can get up close to the animals, which she often cannot do at other places she has visited.
Summary: One of the best farms I have visited
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Sea Life Centre (Blackpool)
by karenlovesmoney
=Sealife Centre Blackpool=
This is located on the Promenade on the seafront at Blackpool, and landmark wise, i would say its between Blackpool Tower and Central pier.
=Car parking=
There is no car parking at the site, although there is quite a large car park almost at the back of the tower, as well as other parks nearby. ... Taxis, buses and trams both stop right by the Sealife Centre.
=Address=
Sealife Centre Blackpool
Promenade, Blackpool, FY1 5AA
www.visitsealife.com
=Opening Times=
the Sealife centre is open daily with the exception of Christmas day, and is open from 10am closing between 4pm and 5pm, (the closing I think is seasonal dependant).
=Tickets=
When I took my daughter we were lucky enough to have a free child entry flyer, there are many different offers such as pre-booking, family tickets, or single prices, adult £15.00 and child tickets are £12.
=Queues=
This is an extremely popular attraction, and can form queues quickly, we have been twice the 1st time 3 years ago, we got there at 11.30am, and had to spend an hour and half queueing, the second time, last year, we got there about 10.15am, and there was about 10 people in front of us, and the queue was moving, so I would say go for the early start.
=Entrance=
You enter on the ground floor where you purchase the tickets, and booklets if you want one. From here you need to go to the next floor where the attraction is based, there is a lift as well as stairs.
=Disabled=
There are full disabled facilites, and the centre is level and easy to get around, although it can get busy.
=Groups=
The centre accomodates groups, as well as school parties.
=Toilets=
These are located just before you go into the main area, these are clean and roomy. I know that may sound daft saying roomy, but when there is you and a child, you need to be able to move around.
=Feeding=
Feeding occurs throughout the day, and they are clearly signposted so you could wonder around then go back to your favourite creature.
=The Sealife=
The creatures are arranged throughout the centre, quite a few of teh animald are in open tanks, with glass panels at the side, so you get a 360 degree view, others are in enclosed tanks.
For instance the stingrays are in an open pool, although I don't fancy taking a dip with them!
=Walkway=
These are what I always think about when anyone says sealife centres is sharks, in the Blackpool centre the walkway is a good size, and there is seating within the area, there is a good arrangement of sharks in this area.
=Crab Pool=
There is area which you can touch the animals such as mini crab and starfish, there are regular displays with the staff who will talk you through all the fish and animals that are there.
=Each Exhibit=
Each exhibit has plaques around the tank explaining all about the animal from size, to diet to where they are natural habitats.
=Viewing=
I was really impressed with the centre as all attractions where easy to navigate around, there was plenty of information as well as pleanty of creatures, for the smaller animals such as the seahorses they were in potholes that look like magifying glasses.
=Wonder through=
When you have worked your way around the centre you end up in the gift shop, I will say that I found the prices to be expensive and we got a couple of little nick nacks, but you could not really do your souvenier shopping in there..
=The Staff=
Everyone that we came across we found to be very friendly and helpful and answered any questions you had.
=our Visit=
We spent about two hours in there, I would have liked to have spent longer, but as it was school holidays it was really busy, and you felt swept along with the crowd.
=Cafe=
There was a cafe in the sealife centre, but we did not use it, as we have our favourite cafe futher down the Prom.
=Would I recommend=
I would recommend going, but I would say try and find a 2 4 1 voucher, or free child as it is expensive, as it is a half day activity, you almost feel you need to do something for the rest of the time.
Overall it was an interesting visit.
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