The summer holidays have finally arrived!
With so much going on at the Farm, there’s never been a better time to discover our beautiful countryside space in the glorious Vale of Glamorgan.
What can you expect at Amelia Trust farm?
We’ll be open every day throughout the summer holidays for Farm visits! There are 20 different species of animals for you to see, including pigs, donkeys, goats, sheep, a Shetland pony, alpacas, rabbits, and reptiles! There’s an outdoor park for children to let off some steam, and plenty of open space. Will you spot the sunflowers dotted around the site for our Summer Sunflower Trail?
Venture into our wonderful woodland, see the wildlife, wander down to the pond, and see if you can spy any gnomes or fairies on your way!
The Green Leaf Café reopened in May after a major refurbishment serving breakfast, lunch, snacks, ice cream for yourself and your 4-legged friend, and a variety of hot and cold drinks!
We’ll also have a number of special event days running throughout the holidays, to help us raise more money for our lovely charity. It’s the support from our visitors that helps us continue to run the GROW programme to help give our young people a brighter future by taking care of the animals, and keep the Farm open for everyone to enjoy.
Feel Good Friday – Friday 26th July
Enjoy a nature walk around the woodland and spend some therapeutic time with our small fluffy animals. Experience the calming effect of music and sound waves with our professional Yoga, Sound & Energy Practitioner, Ashley. Get creative in the craft room and enjoy rhyme and sign and fun story time with Barry Library.
As well as our additional activities, you’ll also be able to see our lovely animals, play in the outdoor park, have a go at our seasonal trail, and explore our lovely woodland.
Bee Happy Day – Thursday 1st August
During Bee Happy Day, you can find out more about the local animals and wildlife on your doorstep and spend a few hours getting lost in nature.
Here’s what to expect during the day:
- A member of our Animal Care team will be in the Animal Centre to tell you more about our small animals, including our rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, degus, and of course, our reptiles.
- You’ll be able to join in with a guided woodland walk, where you’ll find out more about the creatures that crawl, fly, can call the woodland home.
- Get stuck into a nature themed craft.
- There will be talks about honeybees, Solitary Bees and Bumble Bees and their lifestyle from Cardiff, Vale and Valleys Beekeepers.
- Talks about Beekeeping and the equipment and training needed to become a Beekeeper.
- The opportunity to taste local honey.
You’ll also be able to have a go at our seasonal trail, see the animals, and enjoy the outdoor park.
Dog show – Saturday 3rd august
You can enter competitions, watch demonstrations, chat to stall holders, & explore the farm with your four-legged friend!
Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome to enter as many categories as you’d like, and we’ll be selecting a winner and runner up for each.
We’ll have fantastic displays from Blue Ridge Canine Academy for you and your pups to enjoy, and there will be stalls from local dog businesses. While you’re at the Farm, make sure you explore our site and get to know the woodland – it’s perfect for dog walks!
Programme for the Day
12pm – Agility Display by Blue Ridge Canine Academy
12:30pm – Agility ‘Come and try’ (Open for anyone to enter)
1pm – Best ‘Looky-Likey’ competition (Open for anyone to enter)
1:30pm – Dog obedience skills demonstration by Blue Ridge Canine Academy
2pm – Best Recall & Down competition demonstrated by Blue Ridge Canine Academy
2:30pm – Best sausage catcher competition (Open for anyone to enter)
3pm – Search & Scent work display by Blue Ridge Canine Academy
3:30pm – Dog show competition (Open for anyone to enter, categories include Best Female and Best Male)
4pm – Best in Show (Open for anyone to enter)
Timings may be subject to change
Grandparent’s Day – Wednesday 7th August
As well as animals to see, a woodland to explore, trails to enjoy, and an outdoor playground, you’ll find plenty of open space, wildlife to spot, and our pond! During your day, chat to our Animal Care staff in the Animal Centre and find out more about our smaller animals, and what to consider if you’re thinking of getting a pet. Pop outside to see our outdoor animals, like our donkeys, Shetland pony, pigs and goats. AND go for a Guided Walk in the woods and discover what creatures creep, crawl and fly in the woodland at Amelia Trust!
You will also find the Aura Trinity Collective Wool Spinners where you can learn about the craft and even give it a go yourself!
Fluffy Friends Day – Thursday 15th August
We know that lots of our little visitors love seeing our smaller fluffy animals, and during Fluffy Friends Day, you’ll be able to pop into the Animal Centre to meet our rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets. Our Animal Care team will be there from to tell you more about our fluffy friends, give you a chance to get to know them, and of course, for you to give them a cuddle. We will also have Morgan from the British Rabbit Council to talk about caring for rabbits and how adorable they are!
We’ll also have the opportunity for children to participate in a mini-Vet experience with a qualified Veterinary Nurse, Tracey from ZOOM-eze.
Make sure you pop along to our Meet and Greet with Buddy the Shetland Pony too. A member of our Animal Care team will tell you all about Buddy, before you have a chance to go in his paddock to see him, this will be the perfect photo opportunity!
Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Friday 30th August
Come along with all your friends and family to see the animals, play in the park, and explore the woodland. We’ll have face painting, tractor rides (weather depending), a colouring station, lawn games, and the Bees and Butterfly trail will be up and running too – a lovely activity for the whole family!
Bring your favourite teddies for a teddy bear health check, pack your picnic, and enjoy a day at Amelia Trust Farm.
Be a Farmer on Various Dates
Our incredibly popular Be a Farmer activity is BACK and we are running more sessions than ever before! Each 4 hour session gives 8 – 12 year olds the chance to experience life at the Farm. In small groups of 6, children will learn how to feed and take care of the animals, as they spend quality time with 2 members of our Animal Care team.