‘Calm on the farm’.

As a family we are now in our third year as annual members and because of the freedom annual membership brings, White Post Farm is by far one of our favourite places.

We started visiting WPF several years ago and personally instantly enjoyed the inner calm the animals bring, how much fun the kids had all around the farm and how friendly and knowledgeable all the staff were.

As someone who has struggled with poor mental health since the age of 18 years old, the inner peace the farm brings, becoming annual members just seemed so natural.

I mean hello, we can just nip in and see the piiiiiiiigies, whenever we like.

“Oh, we have a couple of hours, fancy going to feed and stroke the goats?”

“Erm yea!”

I’ve lost count how many hours we’ve stood watching the Meerkats, or stroking the Gurnsey Goats. Lost count how many animals we’ve held, bellowed on sheep at the sheep races and chilled out watching the bird of prey demonstrations. How many four-legged animal feed bags we’ve gone through, or how much coffee I’ve drunk and food ate watching the kids play on the park or raced them around the go-kart track!

The insanely gorgeous animals on the farm are so varied, there is something for everyone. For instance, my wife and I love the typical farmyard animals, piggies, sheep, and goats whereas our son is a fan of the reptiles; snakes, crocodiles, lizards and bearded dragons and our daughter loves the fluffy rabbits, guinea pigs and mice. Have you seen the size of those giant rabbits?

Being a working farm, I adore the constant changes the seasons brings. The new life emerging. The colour changes to the foliage. The different experiences and events the team organise throughout the year. Halloween time is my favourite. The team keep pushing the boundaries each year and I love it! I’ve never seen so many pumpkins!

One of my mantras is “how can I be better?” so it is so good to see this same ethos at WPF. In the 3 years since becoming annual members the farm has seen vast changes, with new attractions being constantly added and old habitats fully renovated. Always striving to be better. It has been lovely to watch the farm grow and strive.

Take the brand-new Jungle Barn (play centre). It is so cool for the kids, including us big kids! Especially since there is very cute horse box café serving coffee

My wife and I really enjoyed the Adults Only nights last year, especially the “bring a torch” night! To be walking around the farm with 100s of adults, no kids in the dark was a genius move! Totally loved these evenings!

Do you know how joyful it is to see 3-day old piglets? As annual members, again this freedom means we can whip in and witness these gorgeous moments first hand. We thought it would be odd as two grown adults to just pop to the farm without the kids, but it feels so natural! The animals bring such tranquillity and peace and as parents we need downtime and joyful moments.

Finally, I cannot write this and not mention how incredible the staff are. Just the most delightful people you can meet. Clearly the calm of the farm rubs off on these guys as they are all so friendly and wonderful souls. Sometimes they must think, not these lot again, we’re not the shyest of families. White post just wouldn’t be so beautiful without them. Helpful, welcoming, knowledgeable and humble.

Whether you get a picnic packed or buy food and drink whilst you’re there, (OMG the paninis and chips are heavenly) get a date in the diary ASAP, organise the kids, family and friends, put the wellies in the car and head down to the farm.

I’ll be in the Silver Barn trying to take decent pictures of the piiiiiiiiiiiigies!

Simon Gunn

@SimonJellyManGunn