Mud pie making, bug hunting, marshmallow toasting and space to run wild make Ling’s Meadow the perfect place for kids to explore the great outdoors. Our children, Rowan, Laurie and Hebe have thought very hard about what they like to do outdoors on the farm. We have used their ideas to add some features to the site that are just for our younger campers. We hope you like them!
Mud kitchen
What would life be without the opportunity to make mud pies! We have had some amazing dishes cooked up so far with mud, sand, flowers, leaves and twigs. There is a rainwater collection point for water to play with and cooking kit to help you make your mud pies.
Losing Yourself
When the grass is at its tallest it is easy to lose yourself on the meadow (we have even found grown ups playing hide and seek!). We know that you love running around the paths so we think carefully about how you can do this without bumping into Mum and Dad.
Farm Walk
Take an amble along our 1.5km farm walk and see if you can spot the roe deer, grey partridges, yellowhammers, hares and maybe even the odd fox! You will definitely also see sheep and possibly lambs if you are here in the spring. The route is well marked with orange arrows and takes you alongside our mixes of clovers, herbs seed mixes. Listen out for bees buzzing as you go.
Bug Hunting
There are lots of insects on the meadow and we need your help to find out what they all are! In the camp kitchen you will find a bug hunting kit with pots that you can collect things in. There are also books and spotter sheets with pictures so that you can find out what you have collected. It is important that we look after the insects as they help to pollinate the meadow grasses and flowers and provide food for birds and small mammals. So when you have finished looking at your insect please put it back carefully where you found it.
Over in the corner by the pond you will find a bug hotel with lots of places for bugs to shelter. Can you spot any? There is also a snake hotel in the long grass nearby. The tin sheet warms up in the sun and provides a cosy resting place for the cold blooded grass snakes that we see on the meadow.
Toasting Marshmallows
You can toast most things over a campfire, but marshmallows have to be our favourite! They are available to buy in our bike shed and toasting sticks can be picked up around the meadow. We have been told that they also toast well over our fire pits.
Meet the alpacas and sheep
Come and say hello to our alpacas, Ben, Sky Thunder, Dumbledore, Haize, Antonio, Apollo, Glen, Polo, Hornbeam, Ickleton, Impsy, Greeves and Mars. You can reach the paddocks through the hole in the hedge in the car park.
Our shetland sheep are in the herbal ley fields around the farm. In April each year we have an exciting few weeks of lambing.
