tried & tested

I can’t believe it’s been over 2 years since we last reviewed Herrings Green Activity Farm and Bird of Prey Centre. Based in Wilstead, just 20 minutes from Hitchin, it’s one of the largest birds of prey centres in the UK and has over 200 birds of prey species, including eagles, hawks, owls, falcons, vultures and kites. But on top of that, it also has an abundance of farm animals including goats, alpacas, donkeys, cows, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs and even creepy critters. Plus playgrounds, mini golf, tyre runs, tractors rides and a lovely café. 

This Easter there is lots to see and do in their Daily Program:

10.30 – Meet and handle our owls.
11.00 – Pat a pet with our beautiful rabbits and guinea pigs
11.30 – Flying display.
12.15 – Tractor Rides & Barrel Rides *Weather dependent
12.30 – Have a go at flying an owl.
1.30 – Animal and critter encounter; meet some of our smaller animals and reptiles
2.30 – Flying display.
3.15 – Tractor Rides & Barrel Rides *Weather dependent.
3.30 – Meet and greet with our farm animals
4.00 – Pony/Donkey Grooming

The farm is split in to 3 main areas:

• The bird of prey area, where you can get up close to lots of amazing birds.
• The main display area, where you can see the flying displays, which is surrounded by the adventure playground, tyre run, miniature golf area and fields with Alpacas, donkeys and ponies.
• A separate small animal area with another playground, ride on-tractors, goats, creepy critters and small birds..

There’s also a lovely little tea room, selling drinks, snacks, icecreams and food.

We started our visit in the main bird of prey area- it was amazing seeing so many majestic birds up close! Many of them are in open enclosures during the day, so you really can be so close to them. The boys were amazed at how large some of them were.

As with most days out, the boys were desperate to check out the park, so we headed there for a play before the first bird show.

The large tyre run was a huge hit with the boys and of course the adventure playground was right up their street. The bird display area is right alongside the play area, and you’re not allowed to play on the equipment while the birds are in flight, which was a huge help at getting them to come and sit down!

The handlers were fantastic at making the display both fun and educational for the children- it was great to see Fraggle the Eagle taking part again after seeing him 2 years previously. It was amazing to see the birds flying freely - the children all loved them swooping down so close to their heads.

Around half an hour after the Bird Show finished, we were told there would be an opportunity for the children to have a go at flying an owl, so we had some lunch (there are lots of picnic tables which was great!), went on the tractor ride and played in the park.

 

My youngest loved the opportunity to have an owl fly to him- it was really well run, with 5 children at a time, who all got to wear a protective glove and have an owl fly to them. I’ve not seen this as an experience for so many children before, and for it to be included in the price was wonderful. Their little faces were mesmerised!

After begging the children to eat their lunch (parents will feel my pain here as you know “can I have a snack?” will be coming 5 minutes later!), we headed to the other side of the farm, where there was more play equipment (big thumbs up from my boys!) and lots of small animals to see and meet.

A surprise addition that I’d forgotten from last time were two large dinosaurs in this area, so look out for them!

There is lots to do over this side too- including more climbing frames and slides, a ride-on tractor area, more farm animals to meet, plus a small birds area in a lovely little garden by the main house. The boys and their friends loved the Macaw, who had lots of fun mimicking them bobbing their heads up and down.

There are lots of small animals too, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, budgies and creepy critters (look out for getting up close and personal with them in the Animal and Critter encounter at 1:30pm.)

We were lucky to be able to experience Lamb bottle feeding too. This is an additional option over the Easter Holidays, priced at £19.50 per person, but it does include entry to the farm for the day too. The experience takes place in a separate barn where you can bottle feed the lambs and have time to play with them, which we all absolutely loved! The handler told us all about the lambs and helped the children to pet them and even hold them. It was such a lovely experience, as I really didn’t expect it to be so hands-on. You can find out more here.

We had a lovely time at Herrings Green Activity Farm and were so lucky with the weather! With my eldest turning 9 this year, he’s not so keen on farms anymore, but there was a really great balance here of things for little ones, but also the educational and unusual aspect of so many birds of prey to learn about and interact with (it’s not every day you can get so close to a bald headed eagle!), along with the tyre run and adventure playground, to keep the older ones entertained.

There’s so much extra going on over Easter at Herrings Green Activity Farm, you can check out the full list of activities here. Plus on Easter Sunday (April 20^th) there’s a Giant Easter Egg Hunt at 3:30pm, where you can also meet the Easter Bunny.  

You can also book lots more activities and experiences to enhance your trip this Easter, including an Owl Encounter, Walking with Alpacas and Tea with Owls- see their website for more details.

You can also see my Instagram Reel of our day here.