|
Set in 76 acres of beautiful contryside
with the River Wey at its heart.
Walk the banks of the river and
admire the variety of wild flowers
and natural habitats for plants,
insects, birds and animals.
Bring the family to see our rare
breeds of cattle, sheep, goats and
pigs and llamas, ponies and guinea
pigs.
Picnic or relax in the courtyard
watching children in the play area.
Rare Breeds Conservation Centre
Opening Times
and Admission
Opening
Times
10:00 a.m.to 18:00 pm (or dusk)
every day
Winter - please phone to check
availability
Admission
Daily and Season tickets Available
Concessionary rates for OAPs, Students,
DSS benefits
Address:
Burpham Court Farm Park
Clay Lane
Jacobs Well
Guildford
Surrey
GU4 7NA
UK
Tel: 01483 576089
For more information: www.burphamcourtfarm.com
A background and
history to Burpham Court Farm Park
The farm was opened to the public
in 1992 and was formerly a dairy
farm. Now only 76 acres, it has
been developed as a conservation
centre, not only for rare breeds
of animals but also for the variety
of wildlife found in the woodland
and riverside habitats.
Earliest records indicate Edward
the Confessor's wife owned the farm,
then a Norman Knight & then
the Onslow family. Parts of the
old farm house date back to 1642,
and all of the farm buildings are
constructed from old recycled timber
as all the new timber was used for
ship building. Several particularly
interesting features of the main
farmhouse are the bread oven on
the north side, the built-in patterns
of blue brick walls and diamond
patterns of the tiled roof. The
old grain store and hoist can be
seen from the courtyard. Recent
owners were the Duke of Sutherland
and Paul Getty, but it is now tenanted
by Bob and Margaret Dearnley.
Soil on the farm is very light
sand on higher ground and heavy
clay near the river on the flood
meadows. Up to a third of the farm
may flood in prolonged rain. The
new bridge was built in 1993, and
enables the animals to move easily
around the farm without having to
be moved by the road.
Burpham Court Farm Park is part
of the conservation area known as
the Riverside Park stretching from
Guildford to Jacobs Well. We planted
over 400 trees in 1993. Over the
west of the farm, foxes and rabbits
are common and Herons, Little Owls,
Kestrels, Mandarin Ducks, Swans,
Pewits, Canada Geese and Woodpeckers
are frequently seen.
Most of the farm animals are on
the Rare Breeds Survival Trust list,
and unless carefully monitored,
could well face extinction. Cows
include White Park (brought by the
Romans), Belted Galloway and Longhorn.
Sheep include Norfolk Horn, Portland,
Soay, Wiltshire Horn, Whitefaced
Woodland, Leicester Longwool, Manx,
Southdown and Shetland. Other commercial
sheep are kept. Goats include Golden
Guernsey and Bagot. We also have
a collection of rare and less common
hens, ducks, pheasants and peacock.
Despite becoming known as the 'Llama'
farm because "Del Boy"
occupies the front paddock, we only
have one family of llamas! The pig
breed, Middle White is currently
kept, which numbers fewer than 300
registered animals still in existence.
Visitors can, if they wish, sponsor
an animal for one year, receiving
a certificate and ticket enabling
them to visit the animal several
times during the year.
Angling is available at the heart
of the farm, and a nature trail
along the riverside hosts much bird,
animal and insect life as well as
many unusual water loving plants.
Guided tours can be booked for
groups, either on foot or by tractor
and trailer and special tours and
activities along with worksheets
if required are provided for schools.
|
