london colney

Willows Farm Village

And Village is just what it is. Amusing farm signs greet the visitor as you drive down to the ample parking spaces. Within the grounds are several independently owned shops for ski and cricket equipment, a camera shop, a kids' furniture shop and, unusually, a forge.

The farm itself has a huge variety of activities for the kids including a sheep show and shearing, animal handling, falconry displays, guinea pigs, shire horses, pigs, and a few mini adventure rides. The Village lists some twenty-five activities and there is a special club which can be joined if you feel like repeat visits.

The Farm shop has a butcher - run by Master Butcher Mick Shelton - selling all types of meat including longhorn cattle, boar and traditionally reared pigs and sheep. The shop has the full range of fruit, vegetables, a delicatessen, a cheese counter and interesting gift ideas connected to the farm. They also stock local beers, English wines and fruit juices, their own pies and bread. They source a lot of the produce that does not come from the farm from other local suppliers. Mr Tuck who runs the kids' furniture store sketches and paints pictures which are sold in the shop.

The Village can be used for birthday parties and has great indoor facilities for the kids if it’s raining. Try and visit at the time of either the Easter or Christmas fairs at which time many local suppliers set up their own stalls within the Village. The fairs take months of preparation andattract visitors from all over the country.

Places of Interest
There's only one place to go! You must visit the Roman Theatre Verulamium, St. Albans AL3 6AE. (01727 835035). The theatre was built in A.D.140 and is the only one of its kind in the U.K. See www.romantheatre.co.uk for details. The Farmhouse Restaurant is on site, or consider the Crooked Billet, Cock or Queen's Head in Colney Heath. All have a good selection of English beers.