Fan at the Farm

Red House Farm near to Dunham Massey Hall and Gardens is not hosting the usual Maize Maze this year. Instead they are expanding the courtyard of activities so it becomes its own complete family day out. Expect all-time favourites and some new attractions.

Red House Farm is a calm place during the week. With a lovely cafe and shop proudly offering the best, the local and the freshly made, free parking and a nice, free to access, play area just by the café – it’s a great place to relax with a cup of tea or coffee, a snack or a lunch. For the fitness conscious it also runs boot camp classes during the week.

Weekends are a different story altogether. Dunham Massey-born Jonny Hewitt, who runs the farm, says, “At the weekends it gets very busy especially during March – October, which is peak birthday party season. The busiest type is the parties for the 3-7 years old with rides around the fields on the barrel train pulled by one of the farm tractors. It is always a huge hit with children and parents alike.”

Of course every summer is the highlight of the year at the farm. This one will be too, but expect a little twist. Red House is not hosting the Maize Maze this year. After 16 continuous years the field needs a bit of a rest to recover, so for 2019 it is a ‘Glastonbury fallow’ year for the maze. However, we’ve got reassurance from Jonny, known to some as ‘director of fun and chaos’, that all is not lost.

Jonny explains, “We are expanding the courtyard of activities so it becomes its own complete day out.

• First off the giant sandpit has been built containing over 60 tonnes of play sand; it’s like being on a private beach!
• Next up, jumping pillows for big kids and little kids alike, these really are great fun for bouncing on what feels like cushions of air.
• The climbing wall will be in action as usual – 7 metre tall climbing wall with 4 different types of climbs.
• The pedal cart track has been expanded and the new carts have been added to the fleet! We have brand new 3 wheel trikes which are double seated.
• The favourites such as the barrel train going for rides around fields. The straw bales are back.
• And for the first time this year we have animals to look at in the courtyard – it is our first foray into having animals as an attraction on its own. There will be 3 kunekune pigs, some lambs, as well as our free range hens roaming in the designated areas.”

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