Petting Farm – White Elm Garden Centre

Important information – Covid19

Thank you for all the positive comments regarding our reopening of the farm. We have now set up the link below to allow pre-booking of tickets. We have 2 slots available each day:

9am to 12.30pm
12.30pm to 4pm

You can arrive at any point in your allocated time, however you must leave by your slot end time.

We have limited the number of tickets quite significantly so that we can monitor our visitors to ensure we are not too busy.

Please note we may amend our visitor limits and procedures once we get a feel for how this is going. Please bare with us whilst we get used to this new way of working.

Please click on the following link to book your tickets

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A SLOT NOW

Please can all customers read and take note of the following guidelines:

Pre-bookings only – no ticket purchase can be made from the till point.

Our Play Barn remains closed. The nearest toilets (with baby changing) are in the Shopping Village. Please keep booking reference to allow re-entry into the Farm.

Annual pass holders must show passes along with booking reference on the day of the visit.

Picnics are allowed in the picnic area near the Play Barn (after handwashing and within your allocated time slot). Strictly no eating or drinking within the farm.

Please keep a 2m distance from others at all times.

Follow the one-way signs around the Farm.

Regularly use the handwash and sanitising facilities available.

You must leave the farm (including the picnic area) by the time stated on your booking slot.

Follow the one-way system through the Garden Centre when entering and leaving the Farm.

You can feed and pet the animals, unless signs state otherwise.

The outdoor play equipment is now open.

We are a family run petting farm with over 100 animals including Pygmy Goats, Alpacas, Sheep, Fallow Deer, Rheas, Pigs, Goats, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Ducks, Miniature Pony, Chickens, Miniature Donkeys & Wallabies. You can purchase a bucket of feed at the ticket hut and feed most of the animals, the feed is a pellet made from grass so is suitable for most animals with exception of the rabbits and guinea pigs as they are prone to over eating. We are an interactive farm and petting the animals is allowed, with exception of the pigs as they are prone to nipping. If you are unsure ask a member of staff or look for the advice signs on all fences. Our outdoor play area has a digger sand pit with sit on diggers and John Deere pedal tractor track, there is plenty of outdoor seating to watch or have a picnic. Within the Petting Farm we have a trim trail and a small sensory area for the children.

Please note children must be supervised at all times – on the Farm, in the Play Barn and on the outdoor play equipment.

PLAYBARN WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Softplay & Toys

Inside the Play Barn we have a soft-play area for children up to 8 years old and a separate soft play area for toddlers. We have a wide range of learning toys – Little Tikes ride on cars, play kitchens, bouncers, puzzles and a jumparoo.

Outside Playground

Our outdoor playground has a digger pit with sit on diggers and a John Deere tractor track, within the Petting Farm we have a large trim trail. There is plenty of outdoor seating to watch your children or have a picnic

Snack Shack

In the Play Barn is the Snack Shack which has a selection of freshly made Sandwiches, Baguettes, Toasties, Paninis along with childrens lunch boxes, fruit, cakes, crisps, chocolate bars and Ella’s Kitchen baby food pouches.

Events

From March to October we have some special visitors to our Petting Farm.

Kings Falconry

Bring along a selection of birds of prey for visitors to see up close, they also hold two bird displays through the day usually at 12pm and 2pm, always involving visitors in the fun.

They will be visiting us on the following dates, please check our Facebook page nearer the time as displays are weather dependent.

Due to Covid-19 restricitions we will not be holding any special events this year with Kings Falconry or Essex Reptile Encounters as both these events draw large crowds of people, hopefully we will be able to welcome them back next year.

Essex Reptile Encounters

Essex Reptile Encounters bring along a different selection of animals each visit. Their Knowledge of the animals is amazing and their visits are educational as well as fun, are you brave enough to hold a Panther Chameleon or Tarantula?

They will be visiting us on the following dates, please check our Facebook page nearer the time as displays are weather dependent.