Fantastic Farmyard Fun! (Hardy's Animal Farm (Skegness))

Member Name: mumto3

Product:	Hardy's Animal Farm (Skegness)
Date:	11/11/08 (505 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loads to see and do- a whole days entertainment

Disadvantages: Nothing is inside so no good for wet days

Hardys animal farm is a working farm situated near the coast at Ingoldmells Skegness not far from the Butlins Holiday camp.

There is a large selections of animals for you to see at the farm but it is also a working pig farm.

The park has a large free car park with plenty of space for cars and coaches. There are also dog kennels situated at the edge of the car park if you have a pet with you.

To enter the park you go in through the large well stocked gift shop where you can purchase small bags of feed for the animals.

The park has a large adventure playground area for children aged from about three years old and there is also a smaller climbing frame with a rope bridge and slide for younger children. There is also a large picnic area with some benches for those taking their own food.

There is a large cafeteria that serves a very good range of hot and cold food with everything from sandwiches to a full roast dinner. All the meals are freshly made and home cooked. You can also buy desserts, confectionary and ice creams. The cafeteria has a large seating area inside with high chairs available and there is also a patio area for those wanting to eat outside.

The first animals you come to are usually some sheep in pens but there may also be some roaming around. There is a large fenced off area with rabbits and guinea pigs and some of these have gates so that you can enter and touch the animals. We usually go in June and can often see newborn rabbits and guinea pigs in this area.

The next area is the Goat house where there are usually loads of adult and baby goats in pens and roaming freely, be careful though because they will steal your bags of feed and try to nibble any clothing or bags they can get hold of. The goat house is very large and you can walk through and come out of the other end.

There are some vintage tractors sited around the farm that you are free to sit on or climb on and take photos. There is also a large selection of vintage ploughs, some old combine harvesters and other farm machines that are very interesting.

There is a big shed housing animals and these can change but last time we went there was a shire horse, some Jersey cows, some ponys, a donkey and a llama. The walkway goes through the middle of the pens inside the shed and you are able to touch and stroke some of the animals. Be careful though because some do bite.

There is a large aviary housing mostly different breeds of chicken but there are also albino peacocks and some ducks in there. On the walls can be found posters with information about birds and even a display of different birds eggs.

There is a large pond that has many different species of duck and goose on it. The whole pond is fenced so there is no danger of children falling in or being unsafe. You can often see ducklings on the pond or in the surrounding bushes.

There is a llama pen near the pond with a selection of llamas in it but you are warned that these animals can spit so be careful!

There is a walkway round the edge of the fields that contain bigger animals like the Highland cow, ponys, sheep and horses. You cannot go into the fields but as the animals think you may have food they often come to the fence to see you.

There is a large working pig breeding unit where you can see piglets with their mums and see the whole process from birth to fattening. The unit has specially glazed pens so you can see inside the pens where the pigs are kept. There are also some rare breed pigs that can be seen on the farm that are not part of the working farm.

There is a small shed that has some old farming implements and last time we went there were some chinchilla in there too.

There is a tractor ride that runs every 15 minutes at certain times of the day. You sit in a large trailer or cart that is then pulled either by a vintage tractor or by the shire horse. The ride takes you round the farm and out to see the highland cows and other larger animals in the fields. There is a small charge for this ride.

The gift shop sells all sorts of things from farm related toys to cup and mugs featuring the Hardys logo. They also sell locally produced sweets and jams and other confectionary gift items. Free range eggs laid by the hens on the farm can also be bought here. My children always find something that they can't leave without!

There are toilets and hand washing facilities at the farm and there is also a baby changing room. In my experience these facilities are always clean and tidy.

I have been to the farm three times as we always spend our holidays in the Mablethorpe area. I really enjoy our visits and there is plenty to keep you occupied all day. The food is reasonably priced and the meals are a very generous size. We find it easier to eat there than take a picnic. We live on a farm ourselves and our children are mad about all things to do with farming and animals so they love this farm. The last time we went my eldest children were four and two and they both really enjoyed it. I would say it is perfect once your child can walk as it can be a bit boring for the baby stuck in the buggy although they can still enjoy a goat nibbling their fingers and being able to see the animals.

I would recommend Hardys to anyone visiting the area as I don't think it is expensive for the amount there is to do on the farm.


Information from the website - www.hardysanimalfarm.co.uk
Anchor Lane, Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincs.
Tel: (01754) 872267

Open every day 10:00 till 5:00, Easter to October
Adults: - £5.25
Children: - £4.25
Family (2Adults & 2 Children) - £18.00
Senior Citizen - £4.75
Under 2's Free!

I could not find directions on the website and I have no idea how to get there myself but if you have a satnav you could find it easily. Also if you go to the route planner on www.theaa.co.uk you can print off the directions and the map from there.

Summary: All the fun of the farm at the seaside!