I’d wanted to take our son (who’s 2 and a half) to a farm for a while. Mainly because I’d like him to know what a sheep looks like that isn’t a clay animation! But without a car I can’t make it during the week and weekends always seemed to slip by without it happening.

Then recently my other half took a week’s holiday and, after hearing lots of recommendations from other mums who live in the Rugby area, we finally made it to Mini Meadows Farm in Northamptonshire. I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint. We had a great time!

First of all, it’s a great place of kids. As well as the animals, there are slides and swings, a tractor to climb all over, a large indoor sandpit and a toy tractor driving range. We missed the times to hold the guinea pigs and other small animals, but there was plenty else to see and do.

When you’ve paid your entrance fee (under 2s go free, older children £2 and adults £3), you can buy a feed bucket for an extra £1.50. This contains some carrot and three coloured cups containing different types of feed. On the side of the bucket are instructions as to which feed is for which animals. In the pic above you can see my son and husband giving some carrot to the Shetland pony.

Outdoors you can see (and feed, with the exception of the rhea – a group of ostrich-like birds): cows, pigs, lambs, alpaca, chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys and goats. There is also a llama – but I’ve never been too fond of them. I think the feeling was mutual as it spat not long after we’d passed it!

Indoors there are also rabbits, guinea pigs and even chipmunks!

Mini Meadows also sells lots of different breeds of chicken. Including this one below, who we took to calling the “llama chicken” due to her impressive quiff:

So, if you’re able to take your little one(s) to a “school farm” near you, it’s a great way to spend a morning or afternoon.

© Claire Huston / Art and Soul