Enjoy the magic of Christmas at Home Farm

A popular Leeds farm is pulling all the stops to create a magical festive atmosphere in the run-up to Christmas.

On offer at Home Farm which is located on the Temple Newsam estate, includes a special nativity in the stables featuring a range of cute animals living at the farm and the chance to enjoy winter walks suitable for people of all ages.

Home Farm will also be featuring with Temple Newsam House in a very special ‘500 years of Christmas' event held this Saturday and Sunday (12 and 13 December). As part of a range of hands-on activities which will be available as part of the 1940s themed weekend at the farm, visitors can stir up a Christmas pudding and make a wish, churn up some butter or even make party hats, paper chains and corn dolly Christmas decorations. At the entrance, visitors can also take a peek into how Christmas may have looked in an air raid shelter during the Second World War and enjoy the warmth of wood burning fires whilst watching the joiners work in their shop. In the ‘Cow Byre’, Pathe News and cartoons from the 1940s will be showing in the Roxy Cinema while a range of vintage toys and games to play with from the era will also be on offer.

Boasting over 400 sheep, poultry goats and pigs, along with an interesting mixture of recreated workshops and exhibitions, Home Farm continues to be a great place for all the family to enjoy and with a festive menu also available at the café this weekend, there is no better place to kick-off the fun this Christmas.

For more information regarding the ‘500 years of Christmas’ event, which will include along with the fun at Home Farm, events at Temple Newsam House including a Tudor banquet display, Victorian merry making, carol singers, storytelling and even a secret winter wonderland journey to meet the one and only Father Christmas, please see: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Events/Pages/500-years-of-christmas-event.aspx

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for communities said:

“With Christmas fast approaching, I am delighted that Home Farm is offering a range of fantastic family friendly activities and events to celebrate the festive season the style.

“The ‘500 years of Christmas’ 1940s themed event this weekend at Home Farm really does promise to be something really lovely, and don’t forget to pay a visit to our very special nativity stable where the stars are some of our very own beautiful animals.”

Notes to editors:

Tickets for the ‘500 years of Christmas’ event held over the weekend of the 12 and 13 December are priced at £7.20 for adults, £3.90 for children and £16.50 for a family ticket, with LeedsCard discounts available.

Times for events and activities over the weekend are as follows:

Cowman’s flat: Stir up the Christmas puddings and make a wish or churn up some butter 10.30 – 12 and 1pm-3.30pm.

Joiners shop: Make a Christmas wreath in the warmth of a real fire 10.30am – 12 and 1pm-3.30pm.

Cow Byre: Check out Pathe news and cartoons in the ‘Roxy Cinema’ 10.30 – 12 and 1pm-3.30pm.

Farm office: Create corn dolly Christmas decorations 10.30 – 12 and 1pm-3.30pm.

Dunston Hall: Make party hats and paper chains 10.30am – 12noon and 1pm-3.30pm.

Home Farm is open 10am until 4pm (winter hours) Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. Last entry is 45 minutes before closing.

Entry into Home Farm:

Adult: £3.40, Leeds Card £2.70

Child: £2.10, Breeze card £1.70

Family £9

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk