Calmsley Hill City Farm

Yesterday we finally were able to use the Calmsley Hill City Farm voucher that we purchased at the Spring Fair at the end of last year. We had planned to go a month ago but with sickness we had to push it back. We have been long overdue for a family outing and this was just perfect. 

The day started with a lovely comment from Alexander who walked into my room and said 'Why thank you Mummy for wearing my favourite colour'. I might just need to go out and buy some more green clothes!

We arrived at the gate, put on sunscreen and then headed into the farm. We looked at the Python and the wombats and then headed over to the animal nursery. The kids were keen to go in a feed the baby lambs and goats. Then there were some mixed reactions. Eliza absolutely loved feeding the animals. She was so confident, so calm, was in control and so gentle with the animals. She wasn't fazed by the goats that at times jumped up on her. She would even tell the goats or lambs to move away or only feed one at a time. 

She was so in control. She'd give some food to one goat and then close her hand to move to another one. Her confidence amazed me!

Apparently goats don't sit like dogs do.

Alexander liked the idea but didn't like the bigger animals coming over to him. He only wanted to feed the littlest ones but the bigger goats were quite greedy and kept coming over. 

Happy to pat

Not sure about feeding

Happy to feed the baby goats or sheep

Until the bigger goat comes over

 Cheeky goat

Daniel liked feeding the animals but didn't like the goats or bigger sheep coming up to eat and really didn't like them jumping up on him. He did let out a few squeals at times when the goats would go for his food. But he did quite well on the whole. 

Alexander was getting quite upset in the nursery so we moved over to where the sheep were behind a fence and he happily fed those ones. 

Daniel loved watching the mice run on their spinning wheels and the ducklings climbing on top of one another. Then he joined James and Alexander to feed the sheep behind the fence.

Meanwhile, Eliza continued to be in control of the nursery. She wasn't even fazed when the goats jumped up onto her!

We then headed out to the grass area, met the camel and donkeys and then the kids had a play in the playground while we waited for our 11am tractor ride. We said hello to the Shetland ponies and told the kids that these were on the island where Tim and Rach are. We'd love to take the kids there one day. 

Then it was the tractor ride! We got to have the whole back trailor to ourselves! So cool. The kids were so excited. I loved watching Eliza and Alexander enjoy all the bumps on the ride. They also liked waving to the animals as we went past.

Next up we went and saw the pigs and piglets and then watched the cow milking. I missed the kids having a turn at it because that would have been cool but that's ok. We will go back another time so that they can have a proper go. Next up we watched the working dog show. The kids (and James) laughed a lot at the dog that they had. He was so cheeky and still learning so would jump on the sheep and at times not listen to the instructions. 

                                                                                    Look at those gorgeous eyes looking up at me

                                                                                        Watching the dog go up to collect the sheep.

We said hello to the horse.

Then went over to the sheering shed to watch a sheep get shawn. The kids got to have a bit of the wool to take home. Eliza liked how soft it felt, Alexander wasn't keen on it being a bit dirty.

Lunch of cheese and bacon rolls was as always a hit. Very tasty. And of course, hot chips goes well with them.

We then went over to watch the whip cracking show. It was so mesmerising to watch. Alexander wanted to ask the man how the crack sound is made so went over at the end. The guy was really kind in showing and explaining it to him. Again, I missed the kids being able to have a turn at cracking the whip but it was still cool to watch.

We walked up the tower to look over the farm land, it's so big! And then met a little goat on our way past that the boys fell in love with.

We went down to look at all the kangaroos who were lazing in the rest area and then the kids had fun playing a game with one of the emus - going up and down and copying each other. 

Then it was back to the nursery. Alexander didn't want to go in so stayed with the sheep behind the fence

but Eliza and Daniel did. Daniel lasted a little bit of time until the goats got too greedy and kept going up to him and occasionally jumping on him. 

Hand up to say 'I have nothing in this hand'

Eliza on the other hand was in her element. She was cuddling the goats, feeding them, talking with them, patting them, rationing how much food they had. She just amazed me with how she was feeding them!

Once all the food had gone, Alexander was happy to try patting some of the sheep, but only the sheep. He didn't want to pat the goats. I'm proud of him for going back into the pen to see the animals again and pat them. 

Each of the kids liked this time. We said bye to the baby animals and then headed out. Poor Eliza just loved it so much she was quite sad to leave. She just wanted to stay with them or take a goat home. She gave them cuddles and then left in tears. Poor little angel. 

We said bye to the wombats, spotted the lizards and turtles in their pen and then headed back to the car.

It was a lovely day out and so nice to be out as a family again. We haven't been able to do that for such a long time. I hope that we can start up doing that again and enjoying the time together as a family doing different activities.

Also, a huge shout out to how well Calmsley Hill City Farm have managed the farm with Covid. At no point were we worried about being too close to other people, or about catching the virus. There were plenty of hand wash stations and sanitising stations, we even saw a worker walking around with a spray bottle cleaning the hand rails and also the play equipment. So they have definitely made it a covid safe place!