Last week I wrote a post called ‘Where are you meeting Father Christmas?’ I wrote about how Willows Farm Village are currently having a Santa’s Grotto Spectacular and Grotto Festive Fun and how we were hoping to go along and see it for ourselves this weekend just gone. We’d had such a marvellous time there at Easter and we were really looking forward to seeing Father Christmas in style!

When we arrived we couldn’t believe the festive feel! Just walking up the drive way and we could see how much effort had gone into turning ‘Willows’ into the most Christmassy place ever! Talk about going all out! The place was shining, literally shining! We didn’t arrive till lunch time so first stop was lunch which we bought there. They are very happy for you to take a picnic and have lots of warm places to eat one but we decided to go for the very reasonably priced food they offer and had a 99% beef burger from a local butcher – yum! Once our tummies were full we set about the real fun!

On to the ‘Farmyard Favourites’ area. It was here, at Easter, that we got to hold baby chicks and we couldn’t wait to see what the winter would bring! We couldn’t believe it when there were tiny baby piggies feeding from their Mummy! What a treat. On the way there Florence had said she really wanted to see pigs and we couldn’t believe our luck that there were so many sweet babies to ‘oooh’ over! We had a tour round the area and enjoyed the goats, rabbits, mice etc. The sheep are delightful and even more fun for us is that one is also called Florence, we loved that! And then came the crowing glory! A BABY REINDEER! What a treat! One of the lovely things about this area is that it has a sign on the back wall of each enclosure letting you know with a photograph how to ‘sign’ each animals name. I didn’t even notice it but Florence (our girl, not the sheep) just started following the signs and doing it on her own! There are lots of little touches like this dotted around the farm. They obviously really care and it totally shows!

Farm Favourite Fun!

Me and the two Florence’s!

So, all the animals are wonderful of course. We absolutely delighted in visiting the donkeys, sheep, pigs and taking a tour of the farm on Tristan the Tractor (who has had a make-over since our last visit and now has a much more efficient boarding technique). We loved all the firm farm faves like milking the pretend cow, playing on the extensive play equipment (which has dedicated age areas) and eating our lunch in specially designed picnic benches made to look like animal houses. Florence, despite the weather had a ball playing in the sand pits and Jimmy just loved smelling the smells and looking around at all there is to see which is much on a regular day so now is amazing; but we were really there yesterday for all the festive fun and I have to say to ‘Willows’, BRAVO! Your spectacular is, well, spectacular!

We adored playing on the carousel (had a job getting Florence off it actually) and it was just the ticket to get us in the festive mood as when we got to that part of the farm the daylight was fading and everything was becoming just that little bit more sparkly! Having done the ‘reindeer hunt’ all around the farm, checking off each one as we found him tucked away, we settled down to enjoy the nativity play. Lots of children got involved and the religious story was told but in a very sensitive manner. If you don’t want to see it there are other things at different times of the day going on in the ‘show area’ but I think it’s important to know the story and learn about all religions whether you believe or not. It was very sweet and I learned something new too! Donkeys all have a cross on their back, interesting!

And this was all before we’d even made it indoors! Inside and there are still the tractors to drive, ‘fill up with petrol’ and scoot around on but now there is also ICE SKATING! Can you believe it?! Not real ice but tiles which substitute for it and actually, this is far easier for little ones and the day at Willows is all about the little ones! They had different sized polar bears and penguins to hold on to if they wanted and tiny little skate shoes which could go over their own shoes if the boots were too big. Florence adores ice skating and loved this activity before we went into ‘Santa’s Grotto’! Now, this really is exciting and never before have I seen such a splendid display for it! As you queue, you walk down a Christmassy tunnel before turning into a windy pathway with displays either side of the elves at work, penguins on ice, reindeer in the snow and fairies in trees amongst other things. This in itself is exciting enough but then you get to meet Father Christmas who has a little chat and gives the children a golden key to his workshop which is filled floor to ceiling with toys to choose one and take home! It’s amazing and the children were all in awe!

Festive fun at ‘Willows’!

It was a lovely way to finish the day but we had to have a quick stop in the indoor play area and say one last goodbye to the baby reindeer before we headed home happy, festive and worn out with having so much fun! As always, ‘Willows’ is a winner for us!

For more information on Willows Farm Village and their Christmas Spectacular Grotto and Grotto Farm Fun please see the website www.willowsfarmvillage.co.uk.

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