Express & Star

High hopes for Lower Drayton Farm as indoor areas open up

A working farm that has been turned into a major adventure experience is hoping to attract 150,000 visitors a year if lockdown rules allow it to stay open.

Published
Owner Ray Bower and managing director Richard Bower test the indoor soft play area ahead of reopening at Lower Drayton Farm

Play@ is based around Lower Drayton Farm at Penkridge where the 69-year-old owner, Ray Bower, has overseen the creation of a tourist attraction that offers people the opportunity to see how a farm works but also to enjoy zip wires, bouncy pillows, a sand play area, peddle carts, bouncy castles and grass sledges.

And wet weather is no longer a problem thanks to the massive play barn.

The farm, which covers 600 acres, officially opened its gates to the public last August but another lockdown arrived and it was only in February that it reopened with the offer of drive-through facilities and burgers.

Now the 59 staff, who work on a rota basis, are gearing up to receive the expected flood of visitors wanting to enjoy the fun of a day out.

Ray said: "We had 800 people a day visiting the farm at that time but they could not get out of their cars because of the restrictions.

"We believe we have the capacity to cater for 150,000 visitors over a 12-month period and offer people the chance to see a working farm in action and the chance to see cattle, sheep, emus, rheas, donkeys, lamas, pigs, chickens, ducks and even a pair of meerkats.

"We are ideally placed at Lower Drayton as there are 14 million people within a one-hour journey to reach the farm.

"We want to entertain people and I believe that people really want to get outdoors because of the pandemic restrictions they have faced.

"Seasonal entertainment such as lamb feeding in the spring, the chance to watch sheep being sheared and later in the year a maize maze, pumpkins and trailer rides will also be on offer.

"Even if it rains people will be able to enjoy fun in the massive play barn and most of the equipment is both child and adult-friendly.

"We have an excellent catering team and just want to welcome visitors through the gates.

"My son, Richard, has been the project manager and we are very proud of what we have done and what we have to offer visitors."

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