This year, the Moreton Show
team are excited to announce that Attwell Farm Park will be joining them at the
event, a favourite of the local community, for the very first time on 7th
September.
The award-winning attraction,
usually based at Beoley in Worcestershire, will be bringing along an abundance
of different animals for visitors to pet, love and learn all about at Moreton
Show 2024.
Stuart Mace, Show Chair says:
‘The Moreton Show team has listened to its visitors and packed in even more fun
for the family this year.’
Attwell Farm Park has won
TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024, Visit Worcestershire’s Tourism
Award for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 2023/4 and Muddy Stiletto’s Best
Family Attraction 2023/4 throughout Gloucestershire and Worcestershire – so
it’s well worth a visit!
As farming is at the heart of
Moreton Show - and always has been - the Society strives to champion British
farmers and aims to educate visitors, especially the younger generations, about
the importance of the people who work in the agricultural industry.
Indeed, in 2024 the team have
ensured that education is at the heart of the Show, to inspire even more
children and young adults to consider a profession in the ag industry. Stuart
continues: ‘The accredited official statics issued by the government in
September 2023, highlighted that 35% of the principal farmers and holders were
aged 65 or older, only 16% were under 45 years old. So, in 2024 we welcome the
award winning Attwell Farm Park to the stage to try to close that gap and
encourage the younger generation to join us.’
Oliver
Arundel, Attwell Farm Park, says: ‘Shows like the Moreton Show are fantastic
opportunities for families to learn all about British farming and animals.’
Attwell welcome over 200,000
families a year, to their usual site in Beoley, allowing visitors to meet over
80 species: from newborn lambs, pigs and alpacas to more exotic creatures like
the world’s largest spider and poison dart frogs. They also host educational
visits for schools and offer unique animal experiences allowing visitors to
engage in interactive encounters, feeding sessions and immersive learning
experiences. Open farms like Attwell give the public a fantastic opportunity to
get up close to farm animals and learn where our food comes from.
Attwell Farm Park started with
a few chickens and Farmer Mike selling eggs door-to-door on his push bike to
neighbouring villages. From these humble beginnings, Mike grew into one of the
top poultry producers in the UK, specialising in Christmas turkeys. Since then,
Mike has moved away from poultry, however he continues to farm his pedigree
Aberdeen Angus cattle and Suffolk sheep.
In 2017, the first year they
diversified and became a small open farm, they welcomed 1,813 visitors, only
employed a handful of staff but they were committed to offering educational
farm experiences to anyone who walked through the gate. Fast forward to 2024,
they now employ over 40 members of staff, facilitate work placements for local
schools, colleges, neurodiverse groups and local organisations. Although
Attwell Farm Park has grown immensely in the past seven years, Farmer Mike’s
mission to encourage anyone and everyone to enjoy a really, hands on farm
experience has not wavered.
Oliver
continues, saying: ‘We're thrilled to be part of the Moreton-In-Marsh Show
2024! Visitors will have the chance to meet some of our family favourite
animals, including our charming alpacas, miniature ponies, pygmy goats, the
world's largest spider, and incredible insects from the rainforest. ‘
You will find Farmer Mike and
the Attwell team in the Farmtastic Area at Moreton Show on 7th
September, along with an interactive mini version of his farm, including lots
of amazing animals and creatures. Visitors can expect to see the animals up
close, from the world's largest spider and stick insects, to Shetland ponies,
alpacas, pygmy goats, giant rabbits and Obi, the baby foal. Esther Watts,
Attractions Secretary says: ‘We are very excited to be having this brand-new
feature be joining us on Show Day. I think it is extremely important all
children get to meet and learn about farm animals, and what better place to do
that than Moreton Show!’
In addition, in the Farmtastic
Area you will find the Oxford Sandy & Black Pig Society. Visitors will
probably have seen these beautiful pigs on the latest season of Clarkson’s
Farm. They have grown quite popular in recent times, although they were on the
brink of extinction twenty years ago, but thankfully dedicated farmers managed
to continue the breeding. They are lovely animals with their gorgeous rusty
coat and big black spots, you will definitely want to go say hi!
There will also be Claas
pedal-operated ride on tractors, Wye Valley Falconry and much, much more in the
fun Farmtastic Area!
Pop the date in your diary – Saturday 7th
September 2024 – and buy your tickets now: www.moretonshow.co.uk.
