As school holidays and animal activities go hand-in-hand, it is only fitting Croxteth Park Farm has a full day of in-person events planned out until September. From small animal handling to pony grooming and from hanging out with the chickens and turkeys to feeding cows, goats and sheep, the farm is the place to be when looking for things to do with kids all year round.
Croxteth Park Farm is a rare breed farm in Liverpool where visitors can get some much-needed petting therapy from cuddly animals (seriously, how soft can rabbits be, though), as well as feed most of the animals there and learn more about the rare breeds at risk. As a traditional working Victorian farm, the spot is one of the “biggest rare breed farms in the country”, housing over 20 breeds which have been classed as Priority or At Risk on the RBST watchlist.
Why are rare breed farms important?
Credit: Croxteth Park Farm
Helping save rare livestock from extinction is the mission behind these kinds of farms, so visiting them not only provides families with a fun day out, but helps fund the conservation efforts for these unique breeds. That way, new breeding programmes can be delivered with more genetic diversity.
The animals at the farm
The farm’s current breeding group is Irish Moiled cattle developed in 1984 and was the first herd on mainland Britain, with over 200 calves born in Liverpool to this day.
Credit: Croxteth Park Farm
Rare pig breeds include Middle White, Saddleback, Oxford Sandy and Black and Gloucester Old Spot pigs have multiple litters yearly, while rare breed sheep and goat breeds also produce offspring each year.
Visitors can also enjoy seeing ponies, alpacas, horses, donkeys, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs and more animals to interact with.
Croxteth Park Farm Summer timetable
Open between 10am and 5pm, the farm has a special daily schedule to meet the animals. You don’t need to book, just show up and pay at the gate. There is no extra charge to meet the animals, and those keen to feed the animals will just need to pay an extra £2 per bucket.
Weekends between July 17 & September 1
Credit: Croxteth Park Farm
Small animal handling – All Day
Meet the goats – 11am & 3:15pm
Pony Grooming – 11:40am & 2:30pm
Meet the poultry – 1pm & 4pm
Meet the rare breed sheep – 1:45pm
Weekdays between July 23 & August 30
Credit: Croxteth Park Farm
Small animal handling – All Day
Meet the goats –10:20am & 3:15pm
Pony Grooming – 11am & 2:30pm
Meet the poultry – 11:40am & 4pm
Storytime – 1pm on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays
Learn about one of the breeds – 1pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays
Meet the rare breed sheep – 1:45pm