Handle the fluffy young chicks, rabbits and guinea pigs in Cuddle Corner and laugh at the antics of the pygmy goats on Goat Mountain. You can feed the ducks, groom a pony, watch and get involved in the ever popular piglet race! So much to do here!
Animal Encounters
Animal Encounters
What is it?
Interactions with animals can vary immensely; they can range from big establishments with no animal contact such as zoos, small animals at a farm park.
What does it involve?
The basis of all encounters with animals is to interact with them! Sometimes it may be from a distance to ensure safety on both sides, but you can often get up close; you can train and even ride some animals.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Spending time with animals has been proven to be beneficial in many aspects of life and development - it can teach things such as compassion, responsibility, and discipline for both yourself and others.
What equipment do we need?
Depending on what sort of animal encounter it is, the equipment involved will vary. For example, riding a horse requires a lot more specialist equipment than stroking a cat! Make sure to check with your destination to see if you need to bring anything.
Who is it suitable for?
Animal encounters are suitable for pretty much anyone - always be careful with smaller children though, as they may not understand how to handle them properly.
Costs?
Can vary from free to reasonably expensive. Grounds that are open to the public and free to enter can often have wildlife roaming around to admire, but more extravagant establishments such as zoos with many more animals will undoubtedly cost more!
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Be aware of allergies when it comes to animal encounters; although mild allergies are much more common, the risk of a student having a severe reaction means you should exercise caution if there is going to be physical contact with an animal.
How do we include?
It will depend entirely on the type of animal encounter, but in general these kinds of activities will be great to include all students in, as everyone can interact with an animal in some manner.
Doing it abroad?
The variety of animals abroad will often vary greatly from our own, and encountering them can be a once in a lifetime opportunity! Foreign nature and safari parks can be great places to visit, so make sure to check out your destination thoroughly to see if there's one you can take a trip to.
Main website:
Check out individual websites for specific information on what's available for you to do!
Venues with this Activity
Here at Manor Country Park you can:
- Meet and feed the animals on our farmyard walk
- Help milk the cows
- Enjoy a river walk
- Walk through the woods
- Play at Barnfield, our extensive play area
Education
Boasts a wide variety of animals on the farm including pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals. Free to all.
The Farm Park is within Floralands Garden Centre, a place for all the family to visit. There is play equipment, a picnic area and a wide variety of animals to see and feed.
Foxburrow Farm is a mixed arable farm with a mosaic of wildlife habitats including ponds, woodlands, meadows and an old orchard alongside the cropped fields. The education facilities are centred on the traditional farmyard and include the barn classroom, toilets, covered activity areas and wildlife garden.
Belmont Children's Farm provides fun and education and easily accommodates school visits and parties.
Come and see the animals and at specific times participate in their daily care: you won’t even have to get your feet muddy! Kids can interact with the animals either in petting sessions or helping with their care, plus tractor rides available through the hidden valley.
This City Farm has lots of animals to cuddle, stroke and feed, horses to ride and they are a venue for birthdays too.
We are in the heart of London with all the sights, smells, sounds and experiences of rural life.
The collection of animals includes rare breed sheep, goats, alpacas and pigs, plus ferrets, rabbits and guinea pigs all ready and waiting for cuddles.
Mudchute Park and Farm isone of the largest inner City Farms anywhere in Europe. 32 acres of countryside in the middle of the Isle of Dogs to share with friendly furry and feathered creatures. There is also an outdoor play area in Milwall Park which is adjacent.
They have a collection of British rare breeds and over 200 animals and fowl on their farm!
Amerton Farm and Craft Centre and Playbarn is a farmyard with indoor adventure play area. It has a tractor track, rope bridge and barns on stilts connected with raised walkways. There is also a soft play area for children under 3 years of age, plus fun days and farm activities.
Visit the famous farm for the lambing weekends and have a truly unique experience! Ride the miniature railway and enjoy homemade refreshments!
Amnerfield Railway
Including such gems as Arty Party, play areas and the Children's Farm this is easily an afternoon's worth if you have the weather.
Not only can you see a wide variety of Children's Pets such as Rabbits and Guinea Pigs, there is also a large selection of various breeds of Poultry, Pygmy Goats, Ducks and Geese, Deer, Sheep and a kune kune pig.
An all weather fun farm experience for the whole family. Indoor play areas, adventure playground, lots of animals to see and cuddle, tractor and trailer rides and demonstrations daily. Plus great for residential and day school visits.
Rand Farm Park offers a high quality “hands on” fun and learning experience both for day and residential visitors of all ages and abilities.
Hands on working farm with animals to visit and adorable petting village
See cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, goats, lots of rabbit, geese and ducks.
Education Activities
Meet the Animals is held every day at 11 am and again at 2 pm, bottle and hand feeding of lambs and kids all year round, plus feeding the pigs and cattle, egg collecting, goat and ferret walking. A wonderful hands on experience and great fun.
An urban farm in the middle of Nottingham! Free to visit and open every day, with a number of animals both big and small; which you can feed, pet and handle; play park and picnic area; plus amenities such as cafe, shop and toilets.
School Trips
Young visitors have the opportunity to get close to a wide range of farm animals from the tiniest chickens to the statuesque Shire horses, with hands-on activities and play zones.
Plus indoor Egg Splat cannons and ride on tractors as well as two adventure play areas for different age groups and the tractor trailer ride.
City Farm with lots of hands-on farming activities to get stuck in to plus events and activities held regularly to encourage volunteers and help fund this charity project.
A nice little farm where you can meet and feed a variety of animals, including sheep,goats, pigs and chickens. Indoor play barn, pedal tractors, plus tractor and trailer rides around the farm. Dedicated area for children’s parties.
Following a £530,000 redevelopment, the Brooks Farm Outdoor Learning Centre re-opened to the public on the 12 August 2014.
A working 2.2 acre city farm in the heart of London with open animal yard, bee room, cafe, working blacksmith's forge and classrooms.
We hold special activities in school holidays such as baking and crafts as well as encouraging families to help out on the farm with some hands-on work experience!
School Visits to the Farm
Situated in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, Grimsbury Farm has a variety of animals, a playground, a picnic area and a café.
Have a rainforest experience in the Victorian glasshouses, get lost in the maze, follow one of our trails or enjoy the beautiful gardens. Visit the farm or have fun in our fantastic new play barn.
Education and Learning
All Things Wild Nature Centre at The Domestic Fowl Trust is set in the beautiful Vale of Evesham in the Worcestershire countryside, and is the perfect place for you to relax, learn and enjoy yourself.
Wyre Forest Discovery Centre hosts the "education centre of excellence". Curriculum linked activities and a variety of adult craft and wildlife focus days are available including high wires and muddy games!
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Featured Provider
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
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