After being poorly for a week (throat infection), and then being amazing and ticking off everything on her chart every night, it was time for a treat day!
We had visited Cockfeilds farm a few months ago with Daddy, but this time we chose to go to one a little closer to home.
I have never been up to Reddish Vale or the farm, and i was eager to take her. She loves animals at the moment and can say "baa-baa" and "quack quack", plus now she knows how to feed the animals, i was excited to go.
It was closer to home, but it did still feel like quite a journey and at one point i did think i had gotten us lost. I was following the maps on my phone, but the walk led me up a road with no path which did worry me slightly, but i found it in the end.
We scanned our tickets and went on to get our bucket of animal feed. This was a little bucket of carrots (great as Nyla wouldn't try to eat these for sure!). We stepped out and were greeted by a member of staff who let me know where everything was and about the halloween and christmas events that are held on the farm.
The first animals we came across were the goats and cows. I was excited about this as Nyla has never seen a cow before. One of the things i was hoping for at the last farm, was to see some, but she missed out on them as we drove by in a tractor.
A little shy at first, she wouldn't go anywhere near the animals or be put down. I shown her to feed one, but she was too afraid.
To the left was the small animal handling area. This had bunnies, baby chicks and ducks, and guinea pigs. You could stroke these or sit and hold them. Finally we got a smile and a "quack" as she spotted the baby ducks. She even stroked a rabbit.
I felt like this area was a little less organised than at the last farm, and on our second walk around, was a little chaotic and busy, but it was nice to see so many baby chicks.
Round we walked to look at some more goats, and followed it round to where there were some sheep, more cows and some alpacas. There were also meerkats, but they were hiding so we didn't see them.
Following round again, we found some donkeys and a huge horse. Again, animals Nyla had never seen before so she was a little shy around them and didn't want to be near them.
There was a soft play which i thought was great and an opportunity for me to have a sit down while she played safe. She climbed up the frame on her own and had fun on the small play area. There was another soft play area which was bigger on the other side but aimed at older kids. Like Cockfields farm, there was also a role play village.
I feel like this role play village was better than the last farm, due to it having more accessories. In the play vets was a machine and lab coats, the shop had shopping baskets play food and a till, the house had a kitchen etc, plus there were hoppers and cars for them to play in around the little town. Nyla had a lot of fun playing in here.
Back outside we headed to the outdoor play area and refreshments centre. There was a huge playground here divided into two sides one for small kids and one for bigger kids. There were
pullies and a sandpit, as well as diggers and air bouncers for people to play on.
We brought packed lunch, and to be honest i was glad, as it looked to be a little pricey. A hot day, i was going to buy us an ice cream, but at £2.50 a scoop, we had our sandwiches in the sun instead.
There was a tractor which did rides, but unlike at cockfields, this was a buggy like system instead aimed at kids and so we didn't get a go on this.
Next to the playground was pigs, and Nyla loved them! She hasn't seen pigs other than on tv before either, and there were pink piglets which i think she recognised.
We took a walk up the other side and could see where they were setting up for halloween with scarecrows and hay mazes, and it looks like it will be a fun event when it starts in October.
Now fed and in a better mood walking, we went back to the animals to see if Nyla would have a go at feeding them. She was a whole new baby and absolutely loved it! She was so brave and picked out little bits of carrot to feet the goats. No fear at all she had so much fun and it was amazing to see.
I got a little lost trying to find the way out, as it said exit and led to another part of the farm, with no more clear signs on where to go from there, but i found it in the end.
We had such a fun day out and would 100% recommend a trip if you are in Manchester. We will be back again for sure.
In comparison to the previous farm trip we went on, i would say that Reddish Vale is a smaller one which is brilliant for younger children, but that also i would avoid busy times for this reason. It opens 10am-4pm and only on a weekend during term time. We went during the holidays at 10am and it was quiet when we got there, however the second walk around it was very very busy. So busy that it was a bit hard work navigating a pram in the cuddle zone with the rabbits. Also the toilets are small which means you have to leave your pram outside. Of course if you have someone with you or older children, it isn't too hard but if you have a baby and are alone, you would need to find the one disabled toilet which is by the exit (a door that wasn't actually even open when we first arrived or on our second walk around.)
Other than that, it was a fantastic day out and we really enjoyed it.
Tickets cost £9.50 at this farm and they run events throughout the year including halloween and christmas.
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