Families enjoy Autumn on the Farm
YOUNGER islanders were able to get up close and personal with the farm animals they read about in their storybooks over the weekend, as Heritage Farm hosted ‘Autumn on the Farm’ at its site in Castel.
More than 1,000 people attended the Guernsey folklore-themed event over the course of the two days, with an array of games and activities on offer in addition to the cows, donkeys, pigs, ponies and chickens.
Organiser Meredith Jee was most pleased at the fact that so many people were returning to the site, with the farm having hosted a series of animal-inspired events since 2020.
‘It’s just so positive as it shows that people think it’s worth revisiting – that’s the biggest compliment we could possibly get,’ she said.
Farm owner Nick Jee hoped the event would educate and inspire those attending about life on a farm.
‘It’s always been the life for me, hopefully it’ll be some of their lives too.’
Mr Jee has built a number of games himself for children to have a go at over the years, and a new addition this year was a 15m-long ball roller – which allowed youngsters to place a ball at the top of a wooden course and watch it twist and turn as it made its way down to the bottom.
‘It took me a couple of days to make and I finished it earlier this week,’ he said.
‘The kids certainly look like they’re enjoying themselves using it so that makes it worth it.’
Alena Demongeot was making the most of the game with her daughter Roxy, 2.
She said that they had come to the farm’s open days every year since they started.
‘Roxy loves the animals and is very much a cow lover, so she especially liked seeing them.
‘It’s so good for her to get up close to them and see them for real, and the games are fun too.
‘She’s loving the ball roller.’
A highlight for parents Gemma Lewin and Matthew Solway was the chance for their daughter Faith, 2, to brush one of the farm’s Shetland ponies.
‘Watching her do that and how much she enjoyed it was so special,’ Miss Lewin said.
She added that Faith had also enjoyed sitting on and pretending to drive one of a group of tractors that were being exhibited.
‘I just think events like this are so important for children. It gets them out and about and is so stimulating.’
