Looking for things to do with the kids in the hols? Roves Farm is well and truly to the rescue, with stacks of stuff for little ones come rain or shine. The 400-acre working family-owned farm is predominantly livestock, with sheep, Gloucester Old Spot pigs and Sussex cows, as well as loads of pet farm animals for kids to get up close to.

There is a super-full programme of child-focused activities every day: meet the animals, feed the goats, brush the ponies or bunnies, animal racing (you can even place a bet that goes to Macmillan), walk the goat, or bottle feeding lambs or kids in the Spring – take your pick from the range on the board when you arrive. 

Rugrats & Rascals, their baby and toddler sessions, are held on the farmyard carpeted area and run daily on term time weekdays. Sessions include a sensory zone, messy play, music, movement, games and interactive story time; and there are loads of other undercover choices including giant slides, tunnels, soft play for under 3’s and craft time.

Outdoor options are similarly plentiful, with giant sandpits, zip wire, swings. slides and ropes. Tractor rides (£1.50pp, under 3’s go free) and activity walks are popular, and they even offer tractor washing (get ’em working!). There are seasonal events all year too, with pumpkin carving, Santa’s grotto, Easter Bunny hunt and summer camping weekends.

We like that Roves has made their own handmade play areas like the rabbit warren with tunnels to crawl through (our kids loved exploring them with glow sticks from the shop!) – all imaginatively done and well thought through.

Happily attention has been paid to sustainability, with local produce & refillable groceries in the shop, wildflower meadows, eco pig sties and solar panels providing energy to the farm.

The Woolly Sheep Cafe is in the main barn, serving breakfasts, lunches and snacks, often including their own meat – the sausages are a treat.  Best of all, it includes a huge play area, so you can have that well-earned cuppa and homemade cake in peace.

Meat-eaters should be sure to visit the Farm Shop & Butchery on the way out. The lamb, pork and beef is all born and reared at Roves to high animal welfare standards – so much better than the supermarket in so many ways. Plus there is lots of locally sourced, seasonal produce.

We’re sure that by the end of the day the kids will be happy and muddy and, most importantly, they’ll be ready for bed.