Celebrate 20 years down on the farm (From Swindon Advertiser)

Celebrate 20 years down on the farm

6:00pm Thursday 30th August 2012 in News By Katie Bond

A POPULAR family attraction is gearing up to celebrate its 20th anniversary next weekend.

Roves Farm, which recently overcame a devastating fire, has continued to attract crowds of visitors and will hold a Family Fun Day on September 8 to mark 20 years since it became a visitor centre.

The family-run farm, near Sevenhampton, will hold a range of competitions, games and fun on the day and all the money raised will be donated to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

The farm is owned by Rupert Burr, 57, who is married to Joanna and has grown up daughters, Charlotte and Pippa who are all involved in the business.

It has become a firm family favourite since it opened.

Pippa said: “So much has changed since the Visitor Centre opened on May 20, 1992, following three successful years of just opening for lambing at weekends.

“New buildings have been built, play facilities created, along with lots of new animals.”

Roves Farm boasts a devoted fanbase, tractor and trailer rides, nature walks, a willow maze, an adventure play area, an area for toddlers, huge expanses of wild flowers and woodland and other attractions, in addition to being a working farm.

Back in May, the family were dealt a devastating blow when a fire gutted the old visitor centre. However, hundreds of messages of support were sent to the farm during the clear-up effort and the Burr family were inundated with volunteers wanting to help out.

During the fun day, there will be 14 crafts and cookery competitions, including Pimp A Welly, Miniature Scarecrow, Collage Of A Farm Animal and Dad’s Chocolate Cake.

Along with the normal activities there will also be welly wanging, face painting, minibeast mayhem, spinners, guess the weight of Napoleon the ram, sit in Farmer Rupert’s digger and guess the number of balloons in the tractor.

Entry for season ticket holders and under three’s is free.

For non season ticket holders tickets are £7 for adults and £6 for children aged three to 16.

For more information visit the website at www.rovesfarm.co.uk or call 01793 763939.