3 weeks Ago
A farm where people can pet animals, go on tractor rides and eat homemade ice cream has been nominated for an award. Smithills Open Farm is one of the 10 finalists in our Bolton News Best Family Indoor Entertainment award . The farm is a Bolton institution, having allowed the public to come and meet its animals since 2001.
It is run by the Grimshaw family, who have been farming around Lancashire for over a century, before arriving in Bolton in 1986. Foal (Image: Smithills Open Farm) Visitors can see the farm animals up close, like cows, pigs and chickens as well as a selection of more exotic animals like meerkats, lemurs, reptiles and marmosets. Owner Carl Grimshaw said: "We are a visitor farm and petting farm open to the public, we offer opportunities to get up close to farm animals and learn lots about them.
"We don't just have farm animals, we also have a range of others like llamas and alpacas. Read more: Jungle-themed play area that's a town centre 'staple' finalist in competition Read more: Cinema which shows films from just £5.99 up for top award Read more: Popular family attraction is a 'splashing place' and is now up for an award Owner, Carl Grimshaw (Image: Newsquest) "We also do donkey rides and tractor rides, as well as pets corner where you can pet baby rabbits, pigs and chickens.
"We milk the cows and our visitors get the opportunity to watch the process of the dairy products being made." For more information, visit Smithills Open Farm's website: https://www.smithillsopenfarm.
co.uk/ He added: "It is our busiest time of year at the moment, we have lots of baby animals being born. Sheep (Image: Smithills Open Farm) "We also have Easter egg hunts starting, which run for 10 days and are a massive attraction.
It is a big hunt, where you have to find the rubber eggs in the woods and swap them for chocolate eggs. "You can also take pictures with the easter bunny and chicken. What is unique about is is that people can get so close to the animals and feed them, and the variety of animals we have.
"It is also nice to see local people recognising local businesses. We employ local people and it nice to be recognised by local people." To cast your vote, pick up a copy of today's paper.
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