Blossom by blossom spring begins
Posted Wednesday 22nd April, 2026
The farm in spring provides stunning, perspective-shifting scenes
Spring fever is evident across the farm and most of the fun happens inside spacious barns. Our "Meet The Animals" experience flips the script — instead of you chasing them, the animals come to you! You'll be surrounded by a lively, frolicking mix of lambs, goats, ewes, and geese bouncing, waddling and dancing around the barn. And don't miss the high-energy chick barn, where holding our new arrivals is a firm favourite with visitors.
And then, there’s exuberant play in a safe, engaging space. With the introduction of our new play areas, kids (and adults) can dive into a new dimension of rural play featuring a fireman's rope, climbing towers, a tree climbing wall, bale climb, interactive farm animal boards, sandpit, and an explorer's table. Let them run wild—this is the ultimate, high-octane playground.
Leeann, our resident gardner, has been tackling the planters and The Peace Garden; weeding, mulching and pruning around the farmyard. Our farming ethos is very much giving back as much as we can to our fields, paddocks and woodland. This can sometimes look untidy but there is very much a science and lots of goodwill behind it all. Farmers giving back to the land often involves "messy" or muddy, nature-friendly practices rather than pristine, manicured landscapes and our visitors generally appreciate what we are trying to do here. We are simply guardians of the land.
On warm, bright days visitors can take an easy stroll around the accessible farm trail with animal stations along the way so you can feed the goats, sheep and cows. Returning the farmland to extensive grassland, managed to different sward heights by our cattle, sheep and goats supports an increasing range of insects and ground nesting wild birds. Over the last 16 years, the farm's hedgerows have been managed very sensitively to enable them to flourish for wildlife. They are now thicker, taller, denser and consequently offer more to wildlife ~ more fruit for wildbirds, particularly in the autumn and winter, better and safer nesting habitat, greater protection from the wind. In the winters 2007-9 we planted a new woodland with the support of a Forestry Commission grant; 1,800 trees and shrubby species. Henleaze Wood is now home to barn owls, hares, hedgehogs, pheasant, partridge and many other wild birds, insects, mammals, flora and fauna. It is still a relatively young wood, but again fun to explore across the different seasons.
Regenerative farming and environmental restoration can appear untidy but is vital for creating sustainable ecosystems. Leeann’s knowledge and expertise allows us to showcase rural areas and eco systems in presentable ways.
