Blog
Time has flown since the excitement of December, and already it is Ferbruary 10th. As ever like any farm always a job to do, January took a while for us to get going, as the lead up to Christmas was so busy with the long hours and workload but was a great end to the year with lots of Christmas trees sold and many children experiencing the magic of Christmas in the Winter Wonderland. Big thanks, as ever, to the staff seasonal, full time, part time, Roly Poly entertainments and Bespoke Princess Parties. The Christmas party was much needed.
But now with the elves all on Holiday with Mr. and Mrs Claus the Christmas Grotto is already disassembled and is having another makeover ready for 2023. Plans already look great as always try to change it up and make it better each year.
This year we have the new reindeer barn of which many of you saw, and appreciated it along with the reindeer who have been without this comfort and shelter for too long. So, we’ll have lots going on in this new area, especially for school trips, which we run at Christmas so looking forward to talking in these.
The reindeer herd is now 10 weeks of the new arrivals. Years ago I’d be lambing nearly 500 sheep at this time of year , just as much work and worry with 40 reindeer. Like many farmers their priority is their stock, so May will be many sleepless nights and hopefully lots of calves born into the herd. I have seen most animals given birth on the farm, but have to say reindeer are the most maternal and live to love their calf, and will defend them till death.
Easter 2023
The first event of the year is the Easter Trail which runs between 1st April and 10th April, The Trail was loved by children and families alike last year, so we are doing it again!
Like last year once you have collected your maps, enjoy the farm on the trail, collect your stamps by working out the clues and finding the eggs, whilst enjoying the walk around the farm.
On the trail you will be able to stop and Play at the Crazy Character Giant Game Garden and Marquee where there is also a refreshment stop, grab those family photos under our Easter Arch or on the Giants Chair, then pop into Will Petting Zoo and enjoy his gorgeous animals, then may a small ride on the mini fun fair.
Then head back to the barn to collect your eggs for completing the trail and then if you have any energy left! Enjoy!
Entertainment with Roly Poly and the Easter Bunny and his Mad Massive Dance Show and Game, then visit our new Reindeer barn and see and feed the Reindeer , it’s going to be great fun.
Gower Fresh Lavender Fields
Later in 2023 we well have the Lavender Fields, blooming strong at the farm this year as the first plants went in nearly 3 years ago, so will be a sea of purple. We opened for a short period last year as was a great response and lovely day out.
This year like all the other events will be a ticketed event, lots of food options, picnic tables, lavender swing and arch, acoustic music, picnic blankets and gower sunsets, this will probably beginning of june.
As with all the events you will able to meet the reindeer by this time the herd should of welcomed its new arrivals by then.
Rhossili Sunflowers
Soon after the Lavender, all very dependant on weather and growing season, the Sunflowers at Rhossili should start blooming, always a tricky crop too grow and many things against it, but worth all the hard work and effort, as is a great day out at Rhossili Sunflowers when the sun is out , with sunsets overlooking Rhossili Bay and Worms Head.
This year we are excited to announce that our 2000 lavender plants should bloom , not just providing a contrast of purple surrounded by the yellow of the sunflowers, but a huge attraction to the bees and insects we have on the vile.
Besides the 30 varieties of sunflowers this year , well have a sunflower maze, sunflower swing, the ever so popular dog arch, arches , café and PYO flower strips which looked amazing in colour last year.
Parking for the sunflowers is with the National Trust in Rhossili, but for all the information for the sunflowers follow the Rhossili sunflower fb page and will see all the amazing pictures
This year we are excited to announce that our 2000 lavender plants should bloom , not just providing a contrast of purple surrounded by the yellow of the sunflowers, but a huge attraction to the bees and insects we have on the vile.
Besides the 30 varieties of sunflowers this year , well have a sunflower maze, sunflower swing, the ever so popular dog arch, arches , café and PYO flower strips which looked amazing in colour last year.
Parking for the sunflowers is with the National Trust in Rhossili, but for all the information for the sunflowers follow the Rhossili sunflower fb page and will see all the amazing pictures
Pumpkins and Halloween 2023
We are then into September by the sunflowers finish, by which time 70,000 pumpkins for the pumpkin\Halloween experience should be finishing ripening. Halloween gets busier and busier every year, having to acquire more barrows and sleds each year for people to wander the fields to choose their pumpkins. Lots of different varieties as ever to the polar bear white ones, crown prince the edible blue ones, and the Atlantic giant the big orange ones we have them all.
The night time picking with the small light trail and floodlights proved great fun, especially on frosty nights and roasting marshmallow pit with a hot chocolate.
Christmas 2023
We are planning to expand the lightrail this year to put 1 km of trail in. We have started already but proving a lot of work. I’m sure we will get it done in time, but initial plans it looks amazing and will be open for Christmas 2023
Finally as ever the big event of Christmas 2023, already we are preparing 1000s of trees, we wholesale a lot to many leading garden centres throughout the Uk, a lot of Fraser Fir, which we specialise in growing and are now proving to be one of the most popular trees in the UK if grown correctly, with its zesty tree small, blueish needles an fullness to tip of tree.
Besides Fraser, Nordman and Korean Fir we also grow over 20,000 pot grown trees we are great for the environment and can be planted after Christmas , these are at the farm all year so can purchase at most of the events, spring and autumn being the best time to plant.
The grotto yet again will be even more magical and different characters this year so looking forward to surprise you all, and the reindeer barn will be a great addition to your visit to see the reindeer, but lets not talk too much about Christmas so much to look forward to to this Easter’s Eggstravaganza!
Looking forward to seeing you all again soon, years ago we’d be lambing now so lots of busy farms around the UK at the moment.
A great series that has come out for the second season is Clarksons farm, a must watch to see what the farming community is up against. Is on Amazon Prime worth a watch.
Like ourselves we diversified many years ago to keep the farm in business, and away from the pressures which was going through. Lots of hard work and sacrifices to get to today tbh, lots of crop failures, birth and death, extremes of weather , but hard to say would change a bit , eternally grateful rain or shine.
So as ever thankyou for all your support for this family business , and provides jobs and lots of joy hopefully to all that visit.
Rob Morgan
