Brooks Farm is a wonderful visitor’s attraction based inside Skeltons Lane Park, Leyton, E10. The farm has full disabled access and two disabled parking bays (call to book). Parking is widely available on Skeltons Lane or Byron Road, although we strongly advise the use of public transport.
The farm is free for visitors, although group bookings from outside of the London Borough of Waltham Forest are charged at £1 per head and donations are welcome.
During school holidays there are children’s activities organised, with every Wednesday afternoon being Messy Play for the Under 5’s. Please telephone the farm to book a place, or to ask more information.
Livestock
It is a semi-working farm with traditional livestock. Farming is seasonal and therefore the animals and what you see changes throughout the year. In the months of March and April you can expect to see lambs, and plenty of other baby animals and at 5pm each day you can watch the goats being milked.
Resident animals include: Dairy short horn cows, Jacob and Ryeland sheep, Dairy goats, Gloucester Old Spot Pigs, Merlin the famous llama, also a whole area designated to small animals like chinchillas, gerbils, rats, hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs and mice, chickens ducks and ponies.
The photograph is of Lilac our Saanen milking goat, She is always happy to see people and gives us plenty of milk every day!
Education
The farm is CEVAS accredited. Visiting the farm can help cover units from key stages one to three. Please talk to the Farm Manager to discuss a visit that can be tailored to your needs.
Other areas
Picnic area, children’s play area, Charlie’s Corner (Petting area), toilets, vegetable garden, nature garden, social room with kitchen (up to 20 people, suitable for kids parties, group visits, used as Tea Room on Sundays etc), class room available from 1.30pm weekdays (can accommodate up to 35 children).
Volunteering / Friends of Brooks Farm
The farm takes adult volunteers interested in animals or in gardening. Thursdays and Fridays are volunteering days and we have a wide range of people volunteeering on those days. We also have children aged 7, or older, volunteering out of school hours. We take the young volunteers on a number of trips throughout the year including the Capel Manor Show where they get to enter our animals into the judged competition.
The Friends of Brooks Farm is an organisation set up to to help develop the farm. They are involved in fund raising, giving ideas, and setting up activities and events.
If you are interested in any of the above please contact the farm.
Working with us
The farm works with various organisations to be of benefit to the local community. These include Surestart - under 5’s and families, Social Services – Adult with learning difficulties, Capital Volunteering, Educational Services, The Young Offending Team, The National Federation of City Farm and Gardens and London Farm and Gardens.
Opening times
Tuesday to Sunday (and Bank Holiday Mondays)
November-March 9.30am-4.30pm
April-October 10.30am-5.30pm
Opening times are subject to change. Please phone the farm if you are in any doubt.
Closed for lunch 12.30-1.30pm
Public transport
Buses: 69, 97, W16.
British Rail: Leyton Midland Station
Admission free to Waltham Forest residents. (Out of borough group users £1 per person and donations are welcome)
Contact
Brooks Farm
Skeltons Lane Park
London E10 5BS
Email: BrooksFarm@walthamforest.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8539 4278
