Roves Farm has been open to the public for three decades this year, and the working farm is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the impressive anniversary.

Graham Seaman, formerly of BBC Radio Wiltshire, who officially opened the Roves Farm Visitor Centre thirty years ago, returned to cut the ribbon on the farm’s newest area – Discovery Wood.

On top of this, the farm is throwing a family fun day on June 18 to officially mark the milestone and tickets for the day have been reduced to the price that admission was way back in 1992.

Discovery Wood was once home to the Willow Maze, but is now, as the farm describes it, a “green haven for den building, woodland crafts, storytime and picnics”. It will also be the new home for a few of the farm’s smaller animals, thanks to new enclosures installed by the Roves team.

Graham, who is now a freelance media producer, said: “It’s been wonderful to be back at Roves Farm. Since my last visit some 15 years ago, the farm has developed so much whilst successfully retaining its welcoming family feel and working farm roots.

Swindon Advertiser:

“I am really touched to have been asked back to open Discovery Wood and start the next chapter in the Roves Farm story.”

The 30th anniversary family fun day, which appears to already be sold out on the farm’s website, will include tractor rides, animal racing and a meat raffle, as well as a funfair.  

There are also other fun and games on offer with a big BBQ and bar, coconut shy, welly wang, giant Jenga, skittles, hay bale roll, mini disco tombola and more.

Roves Farm has become a popular and well-known local farm attraction, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each year to meet and feed the animals, have outdoor adventures, go on a tractor ride, and experience the sights and sounds of a real working farm.

This summer, the farm’s Nature Detectives summer holiday programme will see new additions to Discovery Wood including the building of a bug hotel, mini wildlife pond, bird boxes and a bird-watching hide.

Children can get fully involved in helping make all of these, whilst having fun and learning about how to help wildlife. For more details about events at Roves Farm visit www.rovesfarm.co.uk.