Project 'Petting Farm'
- pigsinblanketssouthwold
- Oct 24
- 3 min read
In our very first blog, I dropped a hint that we had some very exciting projects in the pipeline and this Petting Farm has been at the forefront!
We’ve been pouring our hearts into this behind the scenes for over a year now — and we’re SO excited the news is finally out! We can now share the excitement with you all!
Don’t get me wrong — there are a thousand ideas we have for our Petting Farm, and this is just the very beginning. There's still lots going on behind the scenes… but being able to open the doors and welcome you in on Friday 24th October has been incredibly exciting!
So, Where Did It All Begin?
Farming — and if you’ve known us for a while, you’ll already know this — is at the very heart of our business. It’s the “why” behind everything we do. It’s a shared passion, and something we care deeply about promoting and educating others on. So we thought: Why not be a driver of education — bringing the facts and fun of farming directly to the public?
That’s how the idea for the Petting Farm was born.
It all began with an old cattle shed, which needed a lot of love. The conversion started back in 2024. We laid a new floor, patched the ceiling, rebuilt walls, and slowly transformed the barn into a place we’re proud to open up to you — and a welcoming home for our animals.
Once the structural work was done, we started planning the layout — thinking carefully about what would work best for both our animals and our visitors. That’s when things really started to take shape!
In the making...
Our First Residents 🐷🐴🐮
Our lovely Kune Kune girls - Poppy, Peach and Plum were the first to move in — and let’s just say they settled in beautifully! They were quickly joined by Maeva, Jack, and Alice (our donkeys), followed by our trio of calves - Tilly, Milly and Billy. Then came a bit of a surprise... our water buffalo - Bella and Bonnie, but we’re so glad they’re here. They settled in straight away and love their daily nose scratches! We also rehomed two adorable guinea pigs, welcomed two lovely lop-eared rabbits, and most recently, our Herdwick sheep joined the family - Bettie, Hettie, Lottie and Dottie. They’ve quickly figured out that the green scoop = treats — and they absolutely love their new home.
We’ve always loved the barn and knew we wanted to add lots of colour. That’s where the amazing Dawn Pretty (@DawnPrettyArt) came in. With a brush in hand and a vision in mind, Dawn worked her magic on the concrete walls, transforming them into a vibrant celebration of farming life, Southwold charm, and rolling hills of nature. She brought the space to life in a way that feels exactly right — full of warmth, and character. We’re beyond excited to welcome Dawn back to keep adding here and then in the future.
The helpful bits to know...
For now, as you know, we’re operating as a booking only entry. That will absolutely change — and we can’t wait to become a general admission attraction. We’re a small team and one that truly wants to do every part of the business with care and intention. When you book with us, we want you to feel like you have our full attention — because you do. Whether you're visiting the Petting Farm or staying with us as one of our lovely Glampers this cosy season, our goal is to make every experience feel personal and valued. Behind the scenes, we’re also continuing to work on more amazing new projects, while making thoughtful improvements to the campsite during our closed camping season. So, head to our 'Petting Farm' page on our website to find out how to book.
And just like that! We have come to the end of our very first day open and it has been so much fun! The animals have loved being the centre of all the attention and being papped! (Don't forget to tag us in any of your photos, we love seeing them).
We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone else as the days go on. Thank you to those who have booked in with us already. We can’t wait for you to meet the animals — and for them to meet even more of you!
Here's to sunny days, starry nights and the memories made under the glorious coastal canvas of Pigs in Blankets.
Comments