They are a small family-run farm that has been in business since the eighteenth century in the Sunderland area. Throughout the years, the family had been involved in a range of farming operations, involving milking Friesian cows, producing potatoes and grains, and rearing cattle. Down at the Farm, the Weightman family ran a large cattle enterprise with over 400 Limousin cows barely 20 years ago.
In 2007, the primary cow pasture was converted into the current agricultural park. Their objective has been to keep things as simple and unadulterated as possible so that generations to come can enjoy the very same wild places they did as children! Keep in mind that everything takes place outdoors throughout your stay. During the summer months, there are numerous outside areas for tourists to explore, including picnic areas and quieter spaces to get away from the crowds.
They’re a seasonal outdoor attraction that changes with the agricultural schedule and the season. Their main season runs from February to October each year, after which they close for the winter. Sheep, cattle, donkeys, and pigs are among the agricultural animals to be seen.
Non-native animals include reindeer, snowy owls, Meerkats, Raccoons, and reptiles. Assuring that they meet the required welfare standards for these animals.
They’re also working on conservation programmes to encourage birds to return and reproduce on the farm, as well as pond redevelopment to increase animal habitat. Their initial tree-planting efforts, which began in 2000, are currently reintroducing a range of species, including herons, kestrels, moorhens, owls, and insects, to the area. They also believe that leaving certain areas of the park in their natural state will aid in the formation of additional habitats and increase the presence of wild deer, hares, and other beautiful local animals — 2020 was a great year for attracting a wider variety of animals, and they want to keep this trend going for future generations.
