The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Stop off for a hands-on tour of family farm
Cuddling a lamb, brushing a big hairy Heilan coo and admiring a pair of goats traversing a see-saw are among the attractions on offer at a new farm tour experience on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
Farm Stop is the concept of Christina Polson, 22, and her father Andrew, and together they have worked to build a hands-on visitor experience on their family farm near Portlethen.
“We have always thought that this part of the world lacks something for all ages to enjoy,” said Andrew, who runs engineering business Enerquip.
He said seeing the consequences of the pandemic drove home the importance of maintaining good mental health and the role the countryside can have in that.
Christina, a management and psychology graduate from St Andrews University, said being able to visit a farm and interact with animals was an important way to help people cope with stress and poor mental health.
This drove the idea for the Farm Stop venture and in the past nine months the Polson family have diversified their farm with a purpose-built animal interaction and education facility.
The farm was traditionally home to Andrew’s pedigree Smerlie flock of Park-type North Country Cheviots as well as Christina and Shannon’s Valais Blacknose sheep.
However, its animal rollcall is now much more extensive and includes a variety of sheep breeds, cattle, goats, pigs, donkeys, ducks, chickens and alpaca.
Initially the Polsons will offer pre-booked interactive farm experiences only, each lasting between an hour and an hour-and-a-half, at a cost of £15 for adults and £10 for children under the age of 16. Children under two get in free.
Christina said: “We were fully booked for the first three weekends and we have already got bookings for schools, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Scout Groups on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
“In the future we would like to offer self-guided farm walks and we are looking to have a farm shop and a cafe.”