Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm

When i was a teenager i was on a youth training scheme doing joinery and woodwork, we spent the summer here building the pig pen. good old days, i will never forget it. its a cracking place to take the kids and if you bring your own lunch it wont cost you a penny.

On a rainy September afternoon my husband I trekked through the woods up Bidston Hill in search of the farm. We were going for the Medieval fair that was being held there, and to see a friend of mine who volunteers there.
Once you figure out which of the gazillions of mysterious, unmarked paths actually leads to the farm, the experience is entirely pleasant. :)
I loved the animals – when were there we saw a donkey, a pony, goats, sheep, chickens, and ducks.
They have a great café as well with some really tasty treats. I really enjoyed the iced biscuit. :) Mmmmm.
Entrance to the farm is free, even when there are events on. The Medieval fair was really enjoyable, if small – and don’t expect eveyone to stay in character as they do at most events like this.
A great place to take the whole family. :) I would definitely go back again.

Situated at the edge of Bidston Hill near to the rear entrance to Flaybrick Cemetery is Tamo Shanter Urban Farm. There is a long story to the farm but I won’t go into it here. A small snippet is that in 1986 a voluntary organisation called the Wirral Urban Farm Association together with the Tam O’Shanter Cottage Trust began to develop the 4 acres around the cottage as a city farm. The construction of farm buildings, paths and fencing was soon followed by a collection of farm animals. The farm and animals are now freely accessible to everyone and it’s absolutely free! There are lots of different types of animals including cows, goats, sheep, turkeys, donkeys, geese, ducks, rabbit, pigs, guinea fowl, bees etc. They hold various events throughout the year such as history talks about the farm, summer holiday events for the kids and military talks.

Its a good way to spend your time with the family.
expensive to eat in but its a nice day out

Expensive to eat in but better when you make your own food. Great days out for the kids, you can also buy food for the animals and also buy eggs for as little as 75p for six (I think)
Its somewhere to get away with or without the kids ;)

Great place to go with the kids if the sun is shining down! Parking is pretty easy. Get there early and you can buy a bag of seed for the chickens for 20p. Kids love feeding them. Café is OK but nothing amazing. Apparently the birthday parties here are good although I have never been to one. One down side is that at some times, it can seem a bit thin on animals, which I suppose is quite important being a farm! but def a place to go when the kids are bored. They can stroke the rabbits on Sunday!

This little ‘Urban farm’ is great to fill up a Saturday or after a big Sunday dinner! Easily reached from Birkenhead and Bidston areas, if you are coming by car there are two car parking areas, either on the road next to the farm or at the car park (large) made for people visiting Bidston Hill. Free car park and no entrance fee makes it a really low-​cost day, especially if you bring a packed lunch. Once you’re in the park you are pretty much left to your own devices, do what you want, when you want! Visit the animals: fat pigs, friendly donkeys, noisy turkeys, cheeky goats and funny ducks! You — and your children will love the animals, all in large enclosures and all happy animals! The farm also has a small shed like enclosure which houses rabbits. Once finished/​bored with the animals the whole family can choose a nature trail (be sure to pick up activity sheets for the kids from the activity centre: collecting leaves/​pine cones etc) and head off into the woods. The farm has a small coffee shop which serves snacks and hot drinks. There is seating outside and toilets too. The only downside was not being able to see any staff around the farm for guidence.

We went to this place with some friends about six months ago and were very impressed.
There are several walks and nature trails on the site itself as well as the farm — which was great as the three kids in our party needed to burn off some energy after lunch. After that we went to the farm itself; there was a great deal the kids to do, and even when they had tired of that there were still the animals to look at!
Car-​parking was easy and the staff were friendly, so all in all it was a great place for a lazy summer Sunday afternoon.

Bordered by both picturesque Bidston Hill and the nearby faded Victorian elegance of Flaybrick Cemetery, this urban farm is based around an attractive 300 year-​old thatched farmhouse (saved from repeated fires and threats of demolition) and features a basic but good-​value café, a picnic area, nature trails and a small play area for children. There’s a nice feel about the place, and youngsters and adults alike will enjoy seeing the small selection of animals including poultry, sheep, rabbits, goats, pigs — and donkey — which are dotted around the property. Disabled access has been provided for throughout, with modern toilets, and plenty of car parking space available — either in the lane alongside — or in the designated car-​park further up the hill. Admission and car-​parking are both free of charge. Use as a base for visiting nearby Bidston Hill and its historic windmill. The farm is open every day — 9.30am to 4.30pm. A small donation would be appreciated. However, the farm loses a star for gratuitously displaying the fact that it isn’t pro-​vegetarian, while also providing pictures of the food products derived from the animals. It can only be hoped that these ‘products’ are derived following the animals’ own natural deaths.