The brand new ‘Let’s Go with the Children’ Guide books cover 14 regional areas of England and offer endless ideas on places to go and things to do with the family this summer. Your biggest problem will be deciding where to go first!
Over Farm Market 01452 521014
Meet water buffalo, donkeys, pot-bellied pigs and greedy goats (animal feed available). PYO fruit and themed trailer rides at certain times. The shop aims to provide the best foods that local producers can produce; the farm itself produces a large range of 80 different varieties of fruit and vegetables.
Water Hall Open Farm, Hertfordshire 01438 871256
This is a very small family-run open farm featuring very friendly farm animals that can be fed and stroked either in the farmyard in their paddocks. The small animal section includes rabbits and guineapigs.Other attractions and facilities include outdoor picnic and play areas, Emillies tearoom and garden to explore.
Old Dairy Farm Centre, Northants 01327 340525
www.old-dairy-farm-centre.co.uk
Enjoy crafts, walks in the fields with grazing sheep and a small museum of bygones. Special events include lambing weekends (small charge). They offer a unique selection of shops and crafts, a fabulous restaurant & tea room, ample free car parking with access for coaches, special events throughout the year and much more for the whole family.
Foxburrow Farm, Suffolk 01394 380113
A visit to this small mixed farm during spring and early summer will be rewarded with spring flowers, birdsong and gambolling lambs . The arable land is managed commercially through a tenant farmer, while the farm’s meadows are grazed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Sandlings sheep flock. Activity days are organised for 6-12yr olds during the school holidays, (booking required).
Hungersheath Farm, Shropshire 01630 674261
Hungersheath Farm Shop and Tea Room is a local produce shop based on 270 acre Furnival family farm located on the Shropshire Staffordshire border. They grow a large variety of fruit over many acres of land so you can always find the best quality fruit to pick your own. A team room serves light lunches including made to order sandwiches, toasties and filled oat cakes.
Cornish Camels, Helston, Cornwall 01326 231119
See the resident camels, wallabies and rheas, follow the farm trail and have fun in the giant sandpit and play area. There is an organic cafe, farm shop, gift shop with local crafts and children's toys among other things. The camel centre looks straight into the camel pen, so that the camels can be viewed and enjoyed rain or shine.
Stonebridge City Farm, Nottinghamshire 01159 505113
Find a variety of farm animals, including some giant snails. There are animal paddocks, a play area and wormery.
The Donkey Sanctuary, Devon 01395 578222
The Donkey Sanctuary is a UK based charity working worldwide to improve conditions for donkeys and mules. This is home to around 400 donkeys who love to get extra attention from visitors. Get lost in the Memorial maze and visit the Nature Centre.
The Tortoise Garden 01726 65670
The Garden is home to approximately 200 tortoises. See the newborn babies in June and you may be able to handle a little tortoise.
Spitalfields City Farm, London 0207 247 8762
Meet a wide range of animals, children can participate in workshops learning how to feed and about animal welfare. Spitalfields City Farm is a community farm only a stones throw from the city of London. They are an urban oasis, offering educational and fun activities, skills training, animal sponsorship and volunteer work for local communities and visiting groups.
Amerton Farm 01889 270294 Railway 01785 850965
Feed the farmyard animals and visit poorly ones in the Rescue Centre. Jump and play in Windmill Playbarn, and take a steam train on Sundays (charges). Children are free to feed and pet the animals in the farmyard. Animal food is available from the Farm Shop
Nagshead Nature Reserve, Gloucestershire 01594 562852
There are bluebells in spring, butterflies and dragonflies in summer and birds all the year round in this beautiful ancient woodland. Spring at Nagshead is an especially good time to visit as you can wander along the trails looking for pied flycatchers, redstarts and species of tits around the nest boxes.
The New Forest Reptile Centre 023 8028 3141
See reptiles and amphibians, including adders, sand lizards, and toads. Don't miss 'Aren't Birds Brilliant' showing live bird nest activity. It's a small but very worthwhile attraction and conservation centre where you can see all of Britain's reptiles in one place; adders, grass snakes, smooth snakes, lizards, frogs and toads are displayed in separate open air netted pens, with all reptiles living in their natural environment.
Iver Nature Study Centre, Buckinghamshire 01895 270730
Iver Nature Study Centre is a wildlife garden in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire where members of the community, irrespective of their age, ability or background can use the facilities and/or take part in organised activities for educational, environmental or therapeutic purposes. Explore this 2 acre wildlife garden, and take part in the environmental activities offered. Don't miss the mini maze and assault course.
Fowlmere Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire 01763 208978
The reserve has a nature trail and three hides. A field teaching scheme is linked to the National Curriculum and includes excellent pond-dipping. There is a way marked trail through the reserve, which contains reed swamp, meres, hawthorn scrub and alder wood.
RSPB Rye Meads Nature Reserve, Hertfordshire 01992 708383
There is a wide variety of habitats on this riverside marsh and many different birds to see. Picnic area and visitors centre. This wetland reserve by the River Lee is home to some of the most graceful and beautiful birds Britain has to offer, such as the kingfisher and the kestrel. Children can borrow Explorer Backpacks on arrival and take part in bird-related games and quizzes
Chichester Harbour 01243 512301
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty famous for its birds. Explore tidal creeks and inlets, spot wildfowl and waders on the salt marshes. Chichester Harbour is internationally important for birds and for its coastal habitats. A huge variety of plants and animals live in and around the harbour
Naturescape Wildflower Farm, Nottinghamshire 01949 860592
Follow the trail around fields planted with various wildflowers. Buy seeds for your own garden and picnic by the dragonfly pond. Naturescape wild flower farm produces numerous native species of wildflowers and grasses, seed collections, meadows, lawns, climbers, wild rose plants, shrubs, trees, hedge plants, pond, marsh, bulbs, corms and more.
‘Let’s Go with the Children’ Guide Books are published by Boomerang Family Ltd.
On Sale Date 23 rd March 2009 Price: £3.75
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The 14 editions are: Bristol Bath Glos & Wilts, Bed Bucks Herts & Northants, Berks & Oxon, East Anglia, East Midlands, Hants & Dorset, Heart of England, Kent, North West, Surrey, Sussex, South West, Yorkshire & North East, London Inside & Out
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