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Having to start from nothing it took time to build up and the first year 3500 visitors came through the doors between May and September
Health and safety is a massive part of day to day business and Anthony and Carl work closely with their local officers for the best outcome and a less stressful working relationship. “We receive quarterly visits from the Health and Safety Executive and if we are looking at making any changes we consult them first so we know what is required to keep everything up to standard. The farm also operates a zoo license which is actually harder to meet the standards of, but also covers most Health and Safety issues,” adds Carl. Routine vet visits, AI, foot
trimming and calving are carried out during the day with the public able to view cow management in practise.
“It is certainly more expensive running an open farm – some of our ‘dirty bedding’ would likely be used again by conventional farmers, but the public expect everything to be pristine.”
A day at Smithills starts at 5am with the morning milking, then at 8.30am the animals on the open farm are fed, watered, bedded down and the farm swept up. Some animals are turned out and some brought in and everything is ready for 10am opening.
Throughout the day educational talks are given in the pets corner where a large variety of species of animals can be petted. Visitors can feed the animals which include goats, calves, lambs and rabbits. They can also see a European Eagle Owl up close and have the opportunity to hold and stroke the 13 foot Burmese Python.
Donkey rides happen in the arena and a tractor and trailer ride takes visitors 42 THE JOURNAL OCTOBER 2014 ’
ABOVE The petting corner runs every hour allowing the public to feed a varity of animals.
ABOVE LEFT There are numerous fields around the farm where animals can be seen feeding or relaxing.
LEFT The old cubicle shed has been converted in to pens for the animals.
round the fields where they can feed the donkeys throughout the day. At the one o’clock milking visitors can see the cows milked from the viewing gallery behind the parlour and then feed the calves with some of the milk. Once 5pm arrives the cows are fed and any other farm jobs and maintenance carried out before the evening milking at 9pm. There are three full time staff employed on the farm to help with the cows and tractor work, while the open farm employs 12 full time staff and 25 part-time and seasonal staff.
The success of the Open Farm has allowed Anthony, who admits he’s very much a farmer at heart, to afford to go back in to cows. In 2007 Anthony started milk production having purchased
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