Playdale Farm are open and looking forward to seeing you. We popped along for a home schooling “school trip” and had a lovely afternoon. Both children had been previously on school / nursery trips so we thought it was very apt that we would go on a Mummy School Trip!
Playdale Farm won the Best Local Family Attraction at the recent Scarborough & Whitby Mumbler Awards. It really is lovely with lots to do for younger children including farm animal barns, outdoor playground and sandpits, tractor rides and the straw barn. There is plenty of space for social distancing and picnicking. Everything is beautifully organised and the one way systems clearly laid out. Plus plenty of hand sanitiser. The cafe is takeaway only and some areas are cash only. Important in our family, there is ice cream!
On arrival, the kids rushed to the straw barn which was great fun and good for my addiction to boomerang videos! Much fun was had on the Metropolis Play with Henry trying to complete the monkey bars. The back field is where we had lots more fun, on the Go Karts, Summer Sledge (the biggest hit!), Zip Line and with the Frisbee – Eliza and I lacked a bit of patience and definitely need more practice! Both children were very excited (quite excessively?!) to meet an Emu!
Sadly there is no animal petting or feeding at the moment. The animals were still pleased to see us! The one way system was clear and worked well. There was a goat kid and piglets only a few days old. Henry was particularly taken with Perry the Alpaca! We also learnt about the different egg hatching times of the various bird species – home schooling box ticked! It was the small animals that won Eliza’s heart! She loved the fact they have a rabbit called Eliza (I am in a lot of trouble as I ran out of phone battery so no photo with said rabbit!). Eliza (child version) was also very taken with the tortoises and the chinchillas – wow they can jump! We enjoyed the animals so much, we went around a couple of times. The Degu’s were certainly full of energy, they never stopped on their wheels! We also learnt that budgies are the third most popular pet after dogs and cats – another schooling box ticked. Henry was so taken with smaller animals and the Emu as he just wasn’t expecting them to be there.
Unfortunately the soft play remains closed but the tractors will be outside.
There is no need to book for normal visits. They are running a Shielding Hour – 9am – 10am every morning for a maximum of 2 shielding families. Admission is the same (£7.75 for adults, £7.25 for children and £6.75 for senior citizens 65yrs+) and must be booked by telephone (with payment taken).
We’d definitely recommend a day out at Playdale over the summer holidays, especially with younger children, it really did feel like a normal day out again. I was very reassured by the social distancing measures and felt comfortable being there and we’ll hopefully be back again soon. It is a good place if grandparents are wanting to take the kids or join you.
Killerby Grange, Station Road, Cayton, Scarborough, YO11 3TL
01723 586351.
www.playdalefarmpark.co.uk/
