Animal farm

THE baby lambs were cute enough to watch as they staggered around, bleating pitifully.

But what my nine-year-old daughter Gabrielle and her friend Hannah really wanted to do was get up close and give them a cuddle.

They did better than that: the friendly farmer let them into the pen and handed them a bottle of milk to feed one of the lambs. It rushed up, sucking desperately at the teat, with milk squirting everywhere.

This was the highlight of a recent family trip to Monk Park Farm at Bagby, nestling below the Hambleton Hills near Thirsk.

This farm's visitor centre only opened four years ago. Within just two years, it was devastated by foot and mouth disease, but it re-opened last year and has clearly built up a good reputation: the car park was almost full when we arrived.

It was cloudy and cool on our arrival, and so we headed for a large barn where the lambs and other tiny creatures were kept in pens. Next door to the lambs were another group of animals which competed for the children's attention: sheep dog puppies that were only a few weeks old and up for sale. Ten of them slept in an interlocked ball of fur. Later, they woke and romped and play-fought with each other, and the children again got a chance to have a cuddle.

Other creatures to stroke included guinea pigs and calves. And there were also pigs, which no one wanted to stroke.

We emerged from the barn into sunshine, and decided to wander through the fields to take a look at the Highland Cattle with their enormous horns, to stroke and feed the Shetland Ponies and then wander around a pond, complete with ducks and geese.

I then discovered what eventually happened to Max the Wallaby. Remember him? He hit the headlines a couple of years ago after he escaped from his home at Huntington, near York, and went on the run - or should that read hop - before eventually being re-captured. Anyhow, he has now started a new life at Monk Park Farm and appears happy.

The children rounded off their day with a play in quite a good play area, and with drinks and crisps from the tea room.

This animal farm is well laid out, the family that run it are friendly, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with children who love animals.

Fact file

Monk Park Farm, Bagby, Thirsk.

To get there: Take A19 from York, turn right to Bagby just before reaching Thirsk. Farm is clearly signposted from Bagby.

Open daily from 11am to 5.30pm.

Admission: adults: £3.50, children and OAPS: £2.50. Under twos: free. No dogs allowed.

Further information: 01845 597730.

Updated: 09:13 Saturday, April 19, 2003