THOUSANDS flocked to a children’s and families day at Lower Shaw Farm to listen to campfire tales, meet the animals and enjoy the sunshine.

Workers at the community resource, opened up for Swindon Festival of Literature, were overwhelmed by the turnout for event.

As the sun beamed down children ran around and explored a giant wendy house, met resident pigs Maggie and Charlie and played on mattresses and giant nets in the main barn.

Storyteller Chris Park used a harp to help tell stories around campfire while author Angela James brought her magical tales to life.

Festival director and farm owner Matt Holland said: “It’s absolutely splendid to see so many people here. It’s a lovely feeling bordering on being overwhelming.

“It’s nice to see people enjoying every area of the farm. We have people feeding grapes to the pigs, playing in the big barn, enjoying camp fire stories, making music in the hay loft, taking part in a workshop on hilarious books in the cats’ room and dragon story telling in the old calf shed.

“We also have scores of people at picnic tables all round the farm.”

Sharon Savory’s children Mia, eight, and Sol, 11, were enjoying the maze and the costumes on the front lawn on their first visit to the farm.

Sharon, 41, a service manager from Queensfield, said: “The kids are loving it, especially the maze and the treasure hunt which we’re doing on the way round.

“My little one found a bunk bed in the Wendy house and pretended to go to sleep. It’s lovely – we will definitely come back again."

Kai Taylor, from Abbey Meads, was also visiting for the first time on Saturday with his wife Nikki and their three young children.

Kai, 38, an executive chef, said: “I didn’t even know this was here and I have lived in Swindon since I was 13.

“We only found out because one of my wife’s friends mentioned it.

“The play area is an old-fashioned place where kids can chuck themselves around and swing on ropes without all the hard surfaces you get nowadays.

“The kids have really enjoyed it – it’s a bit of an escape from normal when kids run around like lunatics tanked up on sugar.”

Fresh, homemade food also proved popular while writers of all ages received a warm welcome in a silver caravan turned into a ‘poetry pod’.

The farm has a number of events for families including a summer holiday activity day on August 9.

For more information visit www.lowershawfarm.co.uk