Greenslate Community Farm
BEST FOR
Ages 5-16
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Wigan
What it’s like
A working community farm where kids groom goats and donkeys, build dens and try bush craft over a two-hour session.
This isn't a petting corner you rush through in twenty minutes. The site lists proper hands-on stuff: feeding and grooming goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and ducks, plus woodland crafts where kids build dens and cook on an open fire. There's a donkey experience too, with grooming and stroking built in, and bush craft training that goes as far as survival skills, so it leans more "junior farmhand" than "look at the animals through a fence".
Sessions run two hours and everything's priced at £12, whether it's the 5-11s or the 12-16s, and whether or not a parent stays. That flat pricing is handy for planning but it does mean a family of three or four adds up quickly. The Donkeys Day Out is a step up at £25 for ages 5 and over, which feels like the one to save for a birthday treat rather than a regular visit.
The farm site itself is open every day from 10 to 4.30, but the Care Farm only runs weekdays and the Straw Bale Café is Wednesday to Sunday, so if you're planning around lunch it's worth lining your visit up with those days. The café does farm-fresh produce and there's a farm shop selling locally-grown veg and eggs, which is a nice touch if you fancy taking something home for tea. Picnics are allowed too if you'd rather bring your own.
Given the minimum age is 5, this isn't really one for toddlers wanting to stroke a lamb and go home. It suits kids who can actually get stuck into feeding animals, building a den or learning a bit of bush craft, and the older end of the age range, up to 16, still gets proper activities rather than being an afterthought.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 16, with older kids getting proper bush craft and farm tasks
- Food
- Straw Bale Café serving farm-fresh produce from on-site farm, farm shop with locally-grown vegetables and eggs
- Minimum age is 5, so it's not set up for toddlers or babies
- Care Farm hours are weekdays only, different from the main farm site
- Café days are Wednesday to Sunday, not every day
- Donkeys Day Out is a separate, pricier add-on at £25
- Farm shop sells locally-grown veg and eggs if you fancy taking something home
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
The summer activity sessions are £12 flat, whether your child is 5 to 11 or 12 to 16, and whether a parent stays or not. The Donkeys Day Out is £25 for ages 5 and up.
What age is it suitable for?
Activities start from age 5 and run up to 16, so it's not geared up for toddlers.
How long do the sessions last?
Two hours.
What do the kids actually do?
Feed and groom animals like goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and ducks, build dens, cook on an open fire, try bush craft and survival skills, and there's a separate donkey grooming experience.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Straw Bale Café serves farm-fresh produce Wednesday to Sunday, and there's a farm shop with locally-grown veg and eggs. Picnics are allowed if you'd rather bring your own.
What are the opening hours?
The farm site is open every day, 10am to 4.30pm. The Care Farm runs Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, and that's also when the café operates, Wednesday to Sunday.
Can we just turn up?
The site doesn't list a booking link, so it looks like a straightforward visit rather than needing tickets in advance.
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