In our inner Courtyard, Children (and adults alike!) are able to touch and interact with our animals, experiencing the sounds and smells of a small farm. All of our animals have been picked for their docile, friendly natures. See below for pictures of all our animals
Important info about keeping safe during Farm visits
Old Holly Farm - encouraging you to have fun,
learn and play SAFELY
Following recent cases of E coli 0157 and other Zoonoses in petting farms, we wanted to take this opportunity to provide you with information on what it all means, how safe you are, precautions and our actions to protect you whilst visiting our farm.
What is E coli 0157?
E coli 0157 is an infectious illness which can be food or water borne. It is recognised initially by the symptoms. These can range from mild diarrhoea to severe bloody diarrhoea with abdominal pain. These symptoms can last for up to 2 weeks. In some extreme cases serious problems can occur including kidney failure.
How is it caused?
It is caused by the E. coli bacteria entering the body through the mouth usually from unwashed hands and infected food or drink. Only very low numbers of the bacteria need to be consumed to cause illness.
Possible routes of the infection are:
- eating undercooked meat, particularly minced meat, often in the form of burgers.
- drinking raw (green top) milk or treated milk that has become contaminated after it has been pasteurised.
- contact with streams, ponds and similar watercourses.
- drinking unchlorinated water
- infection from pets and farm animals.
What about when I visit the farm?
At the entrance to the farm gate we have an information leaflet for you to take and read, it includes the information below. Don't forget that a big advantage of our farm is that you can still enter our Farm Shop, Cafe and Indoor Playbarn without visiting the animal areas. Plus as we don't charge an entrance fee to the farm, you are not missing out if you choose to avoid this area. Please remember however, that good personal hygiene should keep you safe when visiting these areas.
Please download our advice sheet to help you keep safe whilst visiting our farm>>
Please read before you visit our farm, thank you
- Always wash your hands thoroughly with WATER and SOAP after contact with any of our animals or pens, and before EATING
- Running Water facilities can be found:
- Around the Courtyard area (3 separate locations)
- In the Courtyard Café toilets
- In the Classroom
- In the Playbarn
- Hand Wash facilities can be found:
- At the Calf pen entry and exit
- All around the Courtyard
- At the entrance to the Playbarn
Before you leave the animal courtyard or farm,
It is NOT enough to just use the hand wash soaps,
please make sure you use our RUNNING WATER facilities
- Children must be supervised whilst washing their hands, and facilities must be used properly
- Eat in designated areas only – the Playbarn, Courtyard Café and on the outside seating area.
- Do not feed our animals, as they are looked after by the team here at Old Holly Farm
- Try to prevent small children putting their hands in their mouths
- If a child has a toy, dummy or blanket with them please take extra care to keep them clean
- Pregnant ladies are advised NOT to touch our sheep and lambs
- As we do not charge an entrance fee to our farm, we request that you do not bring your own food and drink. Please note: you will be asked to pack away picnics.
We take great care in ensuring our facilities are kept clean and safe for everyone who visits our farm. However there will always be a risk through the very nature of our business and allowing people to interact with our animals.
Therefore we ask for your support when visiting our farm in keeping yourself safe by
following our advice and making use of the washing facilities available.
If I catch E coli 0157, will I need treatment?
There is no specific treatment for this particular illness and the most appropriate medication will depend upon the symptoms being suffered. Your doctor will be able to advise you what is most appropriate in your case.
For more information, please follow the links which we think you will find useful:
Health Protection Agency info on handwashing>>
Wyre Borough Council>>
Nhs direct E coli facts>>
HPA Hand washing technique (child friendly)>>
Nhs Hand washing technique>>
Nhs cleanyourhands Campaign>>
HSE advice sheet: Avoiding ill health at open farms - Advice to farmers (with teachers supplement)>>
If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Meet our animals>>>
We are Paul and Ginger, and we are the new Donkeys!
We arrived at the farm in May 2011 and have been busy doing rides throughout the Summer! We will be here all Winter and will be offering rides from Easter next year (if its sunny enough!).
*Weather permitting - our coats are not waterproof so unfortunately when it is wet and cold we can't wear our saddles as it rubs our skin and makes us unhappy.
Please check with us before you set off whether the rides will be taking place.
Please note: Old Holly Farm would like to remind parents/guardians that the safety and
well-being of their child / children is solely their responsibility. Old Holly Farm accepts no responsibility for any injury or damage to persons or clothing that may be caused by donkey rides. Old Holly Farm reserve the right to refuse donkey rides if they feel the donkey or child may be at risk.
Thanks to Isaac Hilton (aged 3) from Mellor, Blackburn, who won our Piglet naming competition!
Isaac picked the names Rhubarb and Custard, which are perfect!
Isaac won a £10 Old Holly Gift voucher, well done.
Now we are bigger we live between the courtyard and the paddocks (depending on the weather!), and we love running around our new field! We also love digging for roots and truffles, you will probably spot us with dirty snouts......although we're not that sure the Farmers love us digging, but its great fun!
We are a Kune Kune and Gloucester Old Spot cross.
Kune Kune means Fat and Round in Te Reo Māori (Te Reo Māori - this loosely translates to "The Māori Language"), and originate from New Zealand.
Gloucester Old Spots are British and are known for being laid back, tough and hardy!
 
My name is Hercules, and I am a male Kune Kune Pig.
I may look big and scary, with my big tusks but I am one of the softest animals on the farm! I love my back being scratched by the Old Holly team, and I spend some of my time in the front paddock and some of my time in my sty. Me and the piglets are the cleanest animals on the farm, as we only go to the toilet in the same place so it is easy for the team to look after us!
We are the Goats, and we come from Dolphinholme Farm in Dolphinholme, which is a working Goat Farm. We come to Old Holly as kids (baby Goats) and they look after us until we are big enough to go back home to join the milking herd! We are definitely the most mischievous, and love nibbling on coats!
We are the farm sheep, and have grown up here since we were born in Spring 2010. We live in the new paddocks and have just had a "wool cut" (sheared).
We are the farms Calves, and are part of the farms dairy herd which you can see being milked every day at 4.30pm. You can feed us by buying some calf feed from the shop - we love it!
 
We are the farm Chickens, we are VERY free range!!
You can taste our eggs in some of the food we serve in our cafes,
or why not take some home from our farm shop.
 
We are the Rabbits and we are the farm chicks.
 
The Courtyard and the Animal Paddocks
are where we all live!
Father Christmas has picked up his Reindeers, but they will be back in December 2012!!
 
Please note: During the Reindeers stay there will be an entrance fee in place to enter our Animal courtyard.
This charge will also apply to our Playbarn customers. |
