Fun and Science at Willows this Half Term

Willows Farm Village near St Albans, Hertfordshire is gearing up for a busy week with newborn lambs arriving during the school holidays. Daily births are expected throughout the annual February Frolics event (19 – 27 February 2011) so visitors can watch and learn while Tuck the shepherd explains all about the lambing season.

Farmer Andrew Wolfe says “We’re expecting about 60% of our ewes to have twin lambs and a further 20% will have triplets, so there will be plenty of newborns to see. The lambing season is a hectic time of year for Anna and I with very little sleep as we’re on call 24 hours a day to check on the ewes and to help out with the births.”

New for February Frolics in 2011 is Mad Science who will be putting on live shows for the whole family to enjoy. The show includes real experiments performed by Mad Science Scientists that have been inspired by farming. They will ‘make mist’ appear just like in the fields very early at this time of year as well as show how to get a hard-boiled egg though a hole that is smaller than the egg without cracking it!

Andrew adds: “Our February Frolics event is designed to be both fun and educational, plus with loads of adventure play it’s a great way for the kids to get active too. It will be the last chance for visitors to enjoy our synthetic magical ice rink which closes on 27 February to make way for our springtime activities.”

A lambing event wouldn’t be complete without Bo Peep, and children can explore the farm and take part in Bo Peep’s fun search for her lost sheep and complete the answers to a quiz to win a prize.

February Frolics has something for the whole family and for all weather conditions. Outdoors there are Fun Fair Rides, Tristan the Runaway Tractor and acres of adventure play, with Woolly Jumpers and Captain Chicken’s Egg Dodge providing under cover activities.

Background Information

Willows Farm Village used to be a working farm but is now one of the biggest leisure attractions in Hertfordshire.

Visitors to Willows can enjoy entertainment, education and fun for the whole family. (Note some animal attractions and outdoor activities are seasonal).

Animal attractions include; Farmyard Favourites, Falconry Centre, reindeer, wallabies, a Sheep Show, Daft Duck Trials and Sheep Racing.

Outdoor activities include; Woolly’s Workout Agility Play Trail, Build ‘n’ Play sandpit, Tristan the Runaway Tractor, Panning for Gold, Country Fun Fair Rides, Inflatable Bouncy Haystacks and Super Slide, Tree House adventure, Leaping Lily Pads Trampolines, under 5’s play area and Lakeside Walks.

Indoor activities include; Woolly Jumpers (play barn featuring ball pools, slides and active play), Woolly's Showtime Theatre which hosts children’s shows and Captain Chicken’s Egg Dodge and Young Chicks Activity Area.

The Farmhouse Restaurant and Woolly Jumpers Coffee Shop offer a wide range of food for visitors.

Willows Farm Shop, on the same site as the Farm Village, works with local producers to provide a wide range of goods with its own butchery counter, delicatessen, fresh fruit and vegetables, breads, cakes and drinks.