2017-02-08 |
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Farm Attraction Winners Announced
The winners of this year’s best farm and rural attractions were announced at the National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) annual conference and awards ceremony held in Brighton. NFAN is the trade association for the farm attractions sector with over 250 members.
Colin
Evans, NFAN chairman said;
“This year’s annual conference
and trade exhibition has been the biggest yet. It is heartening
to see the sector growing and developing. During the three day
conference delegates visited two Sussex farm attractions, Fishers
Adventure Farm Park, Wisborough Green and Knockhatch Adventure
Park, Hailsham.”
Large Farm Attraction Winner Odds Farm Park (l-r
Martin Renwick from award sponsor Regency Purchasing Group; Steve
and Jackie Vinden and the team from Odds Farm Park, Buckinghamshire;
Colin Evans chairman of NFAN.)
The NFAN annual awards, the Farm Attraction ‘Oscars’ were held at a glittering dinner during the three day conference, hosted by Brighton comedian Stephen Grant. The Winner of the Large Farm Attraction of the Year (over 75,000 visitors pa) was Odds Farm Park near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The winner of the small Farm Attraction of the Year (under 75,000 visitors pa) went to Hall Hill Farm in County Durham.
There was a standing ovation as Andrew Wolfe from Willows Activity Farm in Hertfordshire was named recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award. Presenting the award NFAN Chairman Colin Evans said; “Andrew Wolfe started Willows Activity Farm in the 1990’s and has been a father figure to many in the industry, offering his experience and advice and inviting countless numbers of farm park operators to visit his operation at Willows. He has been an active member of the NFAN committee for many years and his input will be greatly missed. He is stepping down as Chief Executive of Willows in September and we wish him all the best in his future plans.”
Other winners on the night were Thrift Farm near Milton Keynes who won Best Food & Beverage. Stockley Farm Park, Cheshire won Best in Education, Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley, South Yorkshire won Best Digital Presence and Hasty’s Adventure Park in Essex won the Innovation Award for their outdoor play area housed under an agricultural roundhouse. The Day Maker award for customer service excellence went to Adam Price at Cantref Adventure Farm in South Wales. The Best trade supplier award went to Kids Play Childcare.
NFAN AWARDS 2017 – Full list of sponsors and recipients
Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Award (Over 75,000 visitors)
Sponsored by Regency Purchasing
Winner – Odds Farm Park, Buckinghamshire
Highly Commended - Fishers Adventure Farm Park, West Sussex
Finalists - Bocketts Farm Park; The BIG Sheep; Walby
Farm Park; York
Maze.
Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Award (Under 75,000 visitors)
Sponsored by Rupert Oliver’s Ideas Factory
Winner – Hall
Hill Farm, County Durham
Highly Commended - Little Owl Farm Park, Worcestershire
Finalists - Cantref Adventure Farm; Spring Barn Farm Park.
Innovation
Award
Sponsored by Marsh & Co Insurance
Winner – Hasty's Adventure Farm, Essex
Highly Commended – Marsh Farm, Essex
Finalists - Mead Open Farm; Willows Activity Farm
Best Trade Supplier
Sponsored by NFAN
Winner – Kids Play Childcare, near Milton Keynes
Highly Commended – Timberplay, South Yorkshire
Finalists - David Taylor Design, Marsh & Co Insurance
Best Food
and Beverage Award
Sponsored by Booker Wholesale
Winner – Thrift Farm, near Milton Keynes
Highly Commended – Walby
Farm Park, Cumbria
Finalists: Fishers Adventure Farm Park; Odds Farm Park;
Lifetime Achievement
Award
Sponsored by NFAN
Awarded to – Andrew Wolfe, Willows Activity Farm, Hertfordshire
Best
in Education
Sponsored by Colour Heroes
Winner – Stockley Farm Park; Cheshire
Highly Commended – Bocketts Farm Park, Surrey
Finalists - Barleylands; Hall Hill Farm; Walby Farm Park
Best Digital
Presence
Sponsored by Partners Leisure
Winner – Cannon Hall Farm, South Yorkshire
Highly Commended – Odds Farm Park, Buckinghamshire
Finalists - Cantref Adventure Farm; Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry
Centre.
Day Maker Award
Sponsored by Playscheme
Winner – Adam Price, Cantref Adventure Farm, South Wales
Highly Commended – Dee Naylor, Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry
Centre;
Finalists - Danny Mitchard, 4 Kingdoms; Fran Smith, Remus Memorial
Horse Sanctuary; Graham Barclay, Cotswold Farm Park; Jim Thompson,
Willows Activity Farm; Toni Powell, Walby
Farm Park.
NFAN would also
like to thank the following conference sponsors:
Conference Gold Sponsors: S. Gregory & Co, Marsh & Co, Davies & Co
Open Day Sponsors: Marsh & Co, Rupert Oliver’s Ideas Factory, Yarde
Farm Ice Cream.
Pre-Conference dinner wine sponsor: Playscheme
Drinks Reception Sponsors: Innovative Leisure, DigiTickets
Awards Dinner Main Sponsor: Lappset Creative
Awards Dinner Wine Sponsor: Timberplay.
