A BAA-RILLIANT local farm has given locals the chance to hoof it with special animal companions.
Farmer, Kelly Richardson, was inspired by her love for furry friends to offer the eccentric experience at the Lower Coates Farm in Silkstone Common.
Visitors are invited to take a scenic stroll with four charming goats - Badger, Cupcake, Chip and Oreo - who have quickly become the small, hairy stars of the farm’s herd.
The one-hour experience includes walking, feeding and fun challenges, such as the ‘Goat Olympics’, which will have you bleating with laughter.
The farm’s cast of quirky characters extends to other experiences, including alpaca trekking, meeting the farm animals and even seasonal lambing events.
Kelly’s 20 years of experience in education, including working with children who had mental health concerns, gave her a deep appreciation of the outdoors.
Since then, she has embarked on a wild mission encouraging the public to get stuck in with nature, receiving an overwhelming response.
Kelly said: “It went wild - everyone seemed to really enjoy it.
“It was a really lovely experience that developed through my ideas in PE teaching.
“We do fun games with the goats that I would’ve originally done with children in lessons.
“From that, people started getting in contact with us about animals that needed a new home and it grew until we eventually got some alpacas too.
“On top of that, we’ve just opened alternative provision on the farm in April for kids who can’t access mainstream school.
“It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, because you can see the power of animals and movement.
“Goats are loads of fun - what I love about them is that they’re amazing therapy animals.
“They can read emotions really well, which suits people who need a bit of TLC.”
When asked what the future will bring to the farm, she added: “We’re looking out for donkeys to re-home.
“We just managed to secure the payment for another field in front of the farm, which means we can expand out there.
“A CLA grant has helped us to secure a nice warm space like a shed, where we want to put a fire pit area for s’mores in the winter.”
