Did you know you can rent a duck for Easter?
On a snowy day in January Woolley Wonderland farm provides a warm home to chickens, bunnies, pigs, goats, ducks, lambs, llamas, donkeys.
A Mother’s Day present of a d’Uccle duck, one which was porcelain coloured with the booted feet and bearded cheek tufts of the breed, started the collection of unique breeds of chickens, ducks and rabbits the Woolleys have collected.
On a tour of the barn you would see a Naked Neck chicken which naturally has few feathers on the neck and a tuft on the head. It has few feathers but is very hardy in the Canadian winter. There is a Serena from Malaysia, a small breed of chicken with beautiful plumage.
Then there are the rabbits. There is a Rex rabbit whose short fur feels like that of a chinchilla. There are lop bunnies in which the mother bunnies have ears that lie down beside their cheeks. There is a dwarf bunny with a lion head mane. That is just the beginning.
How did this all start? The Woolleys bought the farm in 1999. These Toronto city slickers moved to Lakehurst. Karen worked at Quaker in marketing and Glen took on the renovations at their 40-acre paradise.
With a last name like Woolley, it was only a matter of time before animals were added. Sheep were first. In addition to their daughter, Fiona, they have added more critters and a program called Critter Visits. Karen is no longer with Quaker.
One place Karen visits is seniors’ homes where she brings four or five living examples of one breed. She provides information about the breed and the animal – chicken, duck or rabbit – is passed around those attending. A couple months later she brings another breed of animal. Critter Visits also provide birthday party entertainment. In Buckhorn they have been at Canada Day or at the farmer’s market.
Another endeavor is the Rent an Easter Duck program. Let Woolley Wonderland Farm know by Valentine’s Day that you would like an Easter duck and it will arrive on your doorstep with food, manual, shavings and water dish for Easter. It will be yours for a week, you take care of it, watch it grow and then it will be taken back to the farm. The farm is a place that it is always growing and changing with lots of different ideas for sharing the wonder of different kinds of animals with others. Check out the website for Woolley Wonderland farm or CritterVisits.ca
Thank You
A thank you from the Trent Lakes Hamper Committee - The Municipality of Trent Lakes Hamper Committee would like to thank everyone for all their help with the 2017 Christmas Hamper. We were able to brighten the Christmas of twenty-two families. It was heartwarming to see all the donations of money, toys and food that you gave us for this special event. We would like to thank all the papers for printing this announcement and also thank Community Businesses, Real State Offices, Community Supporters at large and everyone else who donated their time to go out of their way to add their touch to this day. YOU made it very special. Once again we thank you. From all of us, to all of you, have a wonderful 2018.
Calendar
HERITAGE: Heritage Day at the BCC, Feb. 17
MUSIC: Buckhorn Singers start rehearsing at 1 p.m. at the BCC, Feb. 20.
JOBS: Job Fair at Lockstop
Cafe, Feb. 3.