Birchfield Family Dairies — Restaurant in England

I hate leaving negative or critical reviews for businesses, especially family run ones like this. However I felt I needed to point out (presumably others will have too) that if you rely on a wheelchair or a mobility scooter then this ain’t the place! I’m confused as to why this venue is listed on here as ‘wheelchair accessible’ as it really isn’t! The entire attraction is on a steep hill. The cafè itself is easy enough for a wheelchair or scooter to get inside and to navigate inside, however actually getting up to the cafè from the car park is a different story. The only type of mobility scooter which in my personal opinion, would have the capability to handle the very rough terrain down to the maize maze, park and the go karts, would be one of those huge 8mph all-terrain ones; which would require a trailer or similar, to get it there! Once you’re through the entrance booth, if you wish to see the animals, you have to turn right to go up an admittedly short but still very steep incline in order to get to the barns. My scooter (which is the most powerful car boot-scooter you can buy) definitely wouldn’t cope. You’d need at least two men to push anyone but a child up there in a manual wheelchair.

I must admit that as well as the surprising lack of accessibility, there also wasn’t very much to do here….? My child held a Guinea Pig which was lovely and we saw a family of pigs and a school of playful Goats and then some bunnies in a cottage. There was also a couple of bouncy castles in a dark & dreary barn which my child enjoyed for about 3 mins but that was it really until you go for a walk down to the Maize Maze (which of course was off limits to me sans-mobility scooter!). There is also a very small & basic play park and pedal Go Kart track which they’d for some reason chosen to not make level (meaning that only daddies and extra fit & strong mummies/grandparents could operate them. Again, meaning my child couldn’t take part because mummy couldn’t…She did try, twice but gave up each time).

On the weekend we visited, they had a lovely field full of Sunflowers where you could PYO which we did both enjoy and bought a lovely bunch at a very reasonable price, so that was great. However I believe that when PYO Sunflowers/Strawberries Etc isn’t on, there’s nothing else to take its place. We ended up leaving 55 mins after we arrived feeling a bit ………. as though there must’ve been more to do…? Had we...

A lovely calm Sunday day out. Cows, donkeys, ponies, pigs with their piglets, goats, guinea pigs, ducklings, chicks, and sheep with their lambs. Our admission gave us the opportunity to feed a baby lamb (this treat i believe is season dependant) we had a little queue and got to hold a bottle where a hungry lamb was guided up to our chair and it chugged the bottle down. The play area is fantastic, aimed at children with the walking ability and upwards. If your brave enough to venture over the stream there is a little woodland adventure to be had (not suitable for buggy’s). The cafe was so clean, really fast service and great food. Childs sandwich came with crisps. We both had a toasty and ordered a portion of chips to share between us all. Toilet facilities were also great and I saw baby changing facilities and a lot of high chairs available. Cutlery and sauces brought to your table with your order, best to give your table number when ordering. There is lots of picnic benches and there was hand washing facilities after seeing the animals. The newest barn held two bouncy castles too. Cafe also offered sweet cakes...

Absolutely love this little place! Been here a couple times, once for pumpkin picking, and this year for strawberry picking. Great place for families, partners, friends. Really feels good and fun to do it yourself, a great experience and memory!

Pumpkin picking 2 years ago was with a group of friends and some of us carved our pumpkins after and fed the guts to the goats, followed by a trip round to see the other animals.

Strawberry picking was just me and a friend, and it was a cute activity to do and get some lovely fresh strawberries out of it at the end, for a good price, too!

Then we decided to try the cafe and grab some ice cream (strawberry+blueberry, raspberry ripple+cotton candy) before heading home. The man who served us was so lovely and friendly.

Can't wait to come again and hopefully see sunflowers and do pumpkins...