Fun, Frolics and a Baby Alpaca at Hall Hill Farm this Half-Term

8th February 2012

Categories: Visitor News

Fun and frolics will return to Hall Hill Farm this weekend, as the popular award winning Durham tourist attraction re-opens for half term.

Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, Durham, named the Visitor Attraction of the Year (small) in the 2011 North East Tourism Awards as well as National Farm Attraction ofthe Year, is all set to welcome its first visitors of 2012 next week (11 -19 February).

The farm is back with afternoons of special children’s craft activities as well as the opportunity for visitors old and young to see the animals in their winter quarters, run off steam or enjoy a cuppa in The Playbarn, and meet the latest new arrivals.

This includes the baby Alpaca, born just before Christmas, currently braving itsfirst British winter. Visitors will also be asked to help the farm to name the youngster in a competition running on the attractions Facebook page.

The Farm has invested heavily over the past year in developing the attraction. “ThePlaybarn has been a great addition," said Ann Darlington, tourism manager, Hall Hill Farm, “And new for 2012 is a larger area for the under 3's. The indooor play area helps to ensure that we can always offer a quality and fun experience all year round, is especially useful at this time of year when the weather is unpredictable.

“Half-term marks an early start to the tourist season here at Hall Hill Farm,” said Ann Darlington, “This year we are hoping to build upon our successes of 2011, which was certainly one of our best. We are proud to kick off 2012 as the outgoing national Farm Attraction of the Year and are still glowing after receiving the Visitor Attraction gold award in the north east tourism awards.”

Hall Hill Farm, which employs up to 50 people, welcomes around 60,000 visitors every year attracted by the family fun on offer and the opportunities to see and touch animals at close quarters. Visitors can see fluffy chicks, inquisitive goats and get close to children’s favourites such as guinea pigs and rabbits, as well as enjoy the Playbarn, a tractor or donkey ride around the beautiful countryside.

The County Durham farm, which opened in 1981, is very much a family business. Situated on a 291 hectare site near to Lanchester, Hall Hill Farm is owned by Jack & Pat Gibson, whose son David runs the working farm and livery and daughter Ann Darlington manages the visitor enterprise.

Hall Hill Farm is open daily on 11 to 19 February from 10.30am til 4pm. It is then open weekends until April when it will be open daily. You can find Hall Hill Farm on Facebook and Twitter (@HallHillFarm) and at www.hallhillfarm.co.uk

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