MORE than 2,000 people of all ages flocked to Pierrepont Farm’s second Festival of Farming, Food and Wildlife on Open Farm Sunday.
The farm in Frensham again opened its barn doors on Sunday, June 5, and afterwards farm owners, the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT), hailed this year’s event as “hugely successful”.
Tractor and trailer rides were extremely popular, and a facepainter left a succession of eager children wandering around the farm as tigers, witches and spidermen.
Tenant farmer Mike Clear gave tours of the dairy – including Pierrepont’s robotic milking parlour - and CRT education officer Annika Rees gave youngsters lessons in how to milk with the aid of a latex glove filled with water.
Children were also given activity books, stickers, packets of cress to grow at home and cow print pencils while Vince Lea, CRT monitoring officer, took groups on guided walks, showing them the nature trails and wildlife hotspots at the farm.
The farm’s other tenants Frensham Brewery served their signature ale and glasses of Pimms to queues of thirsty punters, with hotdogs and burgers offered by Woodwards Jersey Beef and Iain Spiggs Ltd.
Volunteers also served teas, coffees and cakes for a donation, and a tombola was cleared of prizes by 2pm.
Stall holders including a jeweller, Rex’s Cupcakes, Peter Quarmby chair maker and Gimblett cheese maker were very busy and did a roaring trade, and carpenter Jonathon Foster invited children to take part in his wood lathe demonstrations.
Surrey Wildlife Trust and the Rural Life Centre were present and also put on displays, and volunteers ran pond dipping sessions which allowed small groups to explore the depths of the pond and examine the contents of their nets in special trays under the shade of a gazebo.
The dairy sold bottles of raw milk – a new venture for Pierrepont – as well as ice cream made with milk from the dairy – perfect to cool people down in the heat.
Finally, groups of children and parents gathered around and sat on tree stumps on the edge of the woodland as story teller Jim Monroe narrated various tales.
“The event was hugely successful and we are looking forward to holding it again next year,” said Lois Dixon, CRT marketing and communications manager.
For more information about Pierrepont Farm and The Countryside Restoration Trust, visit the website www.countrysiderestorationtrust.com.