Urban farms (London)

[London_Calling]

Day/afternoon out with friend and her two kids, boy 10, girl 8. A good age for animals I think, can't go wrong, but I'm stuck after:

Hackney City Farm, and

Mudchute Park and Farm


. .. kind of interested in Walthamstow and Hackney marshes as well, but fear there might not be enough action for kids of that age ?


Basically; HELP !

 

[Sunray]

Walthamstow marsh, if your talking about the Lea bridge road area, well thats got a riding centre and an Ice Rink. Combine the two for some fun.

 

[zoltan]

Theres one next to Surrey Quays ?

http://www.surreydocksfarm.org/

Its crap IIRC tho'

 

[zoltan]

Vauxhall is Small but OK

http://www.vauxhallcityfarm.org.uk/

Nice big rabbits, but the local Kidz seem to hang around the entrance and steal the money you leave in the collection boxes or maybe it was just my money

 

[scifisam]

There's another good city farm in Spitalfields - Spitalfields City Farm, funnily enough.

Or were you looking for something else to do after the city farms? You could try the Ragged School Museum in Mile End - quite easy to get to from any of those city farms, though there might be another one nearer it.

 

[quimcunx]

I think there is one called Dean City Farm near collier's wood. though thet've probably closed them down to build flats.

no. here it is. http://www.deencityfarm.co.uk/

 

[Callie]

its not a farm but i like battersea park childrens zoo - you can almost touch the lemurs!!!! (well you actually can but your not supposed to :O )

http://www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk/html/index.html

 

[Tank Girl]

Theres one next to Surrey Quays ?

http://www.surreydocksfarm.org/

Its crap IIRC tho'

that's the only city farm I've been to, and I loved it!

 

[London_Calling]

Nice suggestions, cheers.

Zoltan: why was it crap - compared to what ?
Tank girl: why did you like it, has it got sheep (and donkey's) !

 

[fruitimix]

go to freightliners city farm in islington, my missus works there so it must be good...http://www.freightlinersfarm.org.uk/

 

[Tank Girl]

Nice suggestions, cheers.

Zoltan: why was it crap - compared to what ?
Tank girl: why did you like it, has it got sheep (and donkey's) !

it had a sheep I think there might have been more, but there's one at the entrance and he stuck in my mind!

and loads of goats that you could roam with and they were very affectionate.

I really liked it because it was very relaxed - you could just sit around all day drinking tea and eating cake. oh, and watching the ducks and geese shag

and yes, there were donkeys and a ferret going for a walk on a lead.

i'm a country girl, so I just appreciated the smell of shit and being able to fuss some animals - with a backdrop of canary wharf, which was quite cool.

here's me and my favourite goat

 

[London_Calling]

goats with extra short legs = ideal for 8-year olds !

Mingling with 'em is probably important as well, so that + sheep + donkeys, could be a winner. I shall submit it to the committee.

Fwiw, in the mean time I had a look at the Lee Valley Country Park - it's 35 mins from Liverpool Street - partic the rent a bike and (horse) riding stuff. Not sure if we're bike people yet though.


All good stuff - I bet it rains . . .

Cheers again !

 

[Guineveretoo]

What about Wood Green Animal Shelter? If it is anything like the one in Godmanchester, it's well worth the visit for kids who like animals. My daughter joined their club when she was little, and got invited to all kinds of events, like learning how to groom a pony, and got a newsletter regularly, and she also collected money for them and took it over there.

I have not been to the one at Wood Green, but it must be the same sort of stuff, surely?

 

[Rollem]

surrey docks farm

Mingling with 'em is probably important as well, so that + sheep + donkeys, could be a winner. I shall submit it to the committee.

they have lots of chickens too, and ducks, and pigs, and a couple of cows...

they also run workshops where the kids can get involved in painting, model making etc. worth checking out what might be on offer when you plan to go. there is also an ironmonger (think thats what he calls himslef? ) basically does sculpture etc, is friendly and happy to chat about his work - if he's there of course.

its not huge, but then thats means you can let the kids have a bit of a free reign and not be too worried about losing them. and as tanky stated, they do a great cup of tea

 

[Roadkill]

There are farm animals, deer and the like out at Maryon Wilson Park in Charlton - though that's probably too far out, and there's not enough to keep people entertained for very long...

 

[Maggot]

Day/afternoon out with friend and her two kids, boy 10, girl 8. A good age for animals I think, can't go wrong, but I'm stuck after:

Hackney City Farm, and

Mudchute Park and Farm

Have you been to Christmas Tree Farm in Downe?

It's quite far out, but not far from you. Lots of lovely animals and you can buy buckets of feed to feed them.

http://www.xmastreefarm.co.uk/main.html

 

[London_Calling]

maggot - had no idea. Great thing is we could double the farm up with Down House literally just up the road:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_House


. . . before then retiring to both of those lovely proper village pubs in Downe Village!

Could be just the job.


All in all, I think there's three days out and about in this thread. Thanks everyone!

 

[Maggot]

Cool. Queens Head is a great pub.

 

[Rollem]

i have heard great things about christmas tree farm! never been though

 

[London_Calling]

Yep, Christmas Tree Farm + Down House + the Queens Head = prob edging favourite as we speak.

Surrey Docks not far behind (but lacking the kid friendly pub at the end).

 

[Rollem]

Surrey Docks not far behind (but lacking the kid friendly pub at the end).

there are actually some kid friendly pubs near there. the three compasses on rotherhite road, and one called the ship (i think) not far down the road toward surrey quays. not exactly knock out pubs though to be fair

 

[Maggot]

i have heard great things about christmas tree farm! never been though

It's just near me. If you really want to go, let me know and I can take you and your family up there.

 

[Maggot]

Also, in the same neck of the woods is Beaver World!

http://www.beaverwaterworld.com/