Family / Windmill Hill City Farm
With the kids in Bristol: Windmill Hill City Farm
A place that oozes with a sense of community is Windmill Hill City Farm. Nestled just behind East Street in Bedminster, the farm is the perfect combination of a family day out, education and community. As soon as we walked through the front gates, I could tell that there was plenty to do here. My first challenge was to get the children into the main part of the farm without them being distracted by the impressive play area.
Having avoided the play area, the first thing the children noticed was the massive Stick Man, welcoming visitors entering the farm. The children were mesmerised and also hoping that he would come to life though fortunately that didn’t happen because I think it would have given them nightmares. The Stick Man Trail is a great way to get the children to explore the whole farm: it opened my eyes to how big the farm actually is and the variety of what goes on at the farm.
is needed now More than ever
Our first stop was to see some of the animals that have made the farm their home. The children really enjoyed getting up close to them as well as joining in with the feeding. There are goats, chickens and pigs but their favourite were the bunnies – though if you stay too long, be prepared for your children to decide they want to take one home.
Next stop was lunch at the cafe. The cafe is the heart of the farm and echoes its ethos as well as being very family-friendly. Most of the produce used in the cafe comes from the farm. My children had their eye on the homemade cakes whilst I settled on a slice of frittata and hubby went for an all-day breakfast. It was all very reasonably priced and delicious.
With our tummies full, we went to investigate the rest of the farm. The farm has a very impressive allotment growing lots of different fruit, herbs, veg and flowers. The children thought this was fantastic. They were engrossed in trying to point out all the plants they knew, and if they didn’t know the names they had fun making them up.
Having been educated on all things horticultural, we made our way back to the exit, via the woodland area, to find the play area. My children didn’t know where to start: it’s such a big space with lots to do and there definitely is something for everyone, whether you’re young or young at heart. My youngest was immediately drawn to the sandpit and the toy tractors whilst my eldest, who can be a bit of a daredevil, launched herself onto the wooden climbing frames. With both children suitably exhausted, that was our cue to leave.
As Windmill Hill City Farm is a registered charity there is no charge for entry, however, donations are gratefully received as it contributes to keeping the farm operating as a community facility. Visit www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk to find out more.
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
