TOURIST GEMS RE-OPENING
GLENROE Farm will re-open to the public on Friday, June 26, with the number of admissions limited.
Hand sanitising stations will be available and there will be signs reinforcing physical distance.
Teresa Toner of Glenroe Farm said that they will not be holding summer camps or group farm tours for now, and Pets’ Corner will be for viewing only with limited numbers.
Numbers will be limited in the playgrounds at any one time.
The Maize Maze will open sometime in July with the popular ‘Pig Out’ challenge.
They also have the nature walk and Fairy Garden which is a quiet walk through the working farm for 1 km taking walkers to the coastline and marshes.
‘We have been very busy since we closed on March 12, looking after all the animals and pets,’ said Teresa.
‘In return, the animals have been busy too and we have lots of new arrivals over the last 3 months!’
She said that they had been looking at re-opening on June 29 under the previous phasing.
While they would be permitted to open now, they weren’t quite ready to do so and are looking forward to June 26.
Wile the past three months have been challenging, Teresa said that everyone has been in the same position.
‘You just have to row with it,’ she said. She said family pitched in to look after the animals and it was a very busy time. ‘When we need extra people we bring them in. Basically, you just go with it.’
The animals are still the same and need the same level of care.
‘It’s a busy season The lambing is done now and we’re in to calf season. We’re also trying to get crops ready and the maze sown. It’s pretty much full on, but like everything, when you’re pushed to it you just have to do it.’
They have also been making plans for how to manage social distancing and other details once visitors return.
She said that the priority at the farm is safety for staff and visitors and of course the animals.
While summer camps are permitted, and were due to start at Glenroe in July, there is too much to prepare in terms of administration to get ready for them again.
While it was life as normal for many of the animals, some of the more sociable creatures may have been wondering where everyone has been.
Molly the horse would generally be curious and come up to investigate as people come along to Glenroe.
She hasn’t had much of that sort of company in recent months and may well be glad to see young people back around the farm.