2017 Conference details & Awards Finalists announced

NFAN – PRESS RELEASE

12 December 2016

NFAN Annual Conference details and Awards Finalists announced

Farm parks are one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK visitor attraction’s market according to research from Visit England. The National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) is at the heart of the industry and celebrates the sector’s champions with its annual awards.

Says Colin Evans, NFAN Chairman, “With over 20 million visits annually, farm attractions are one of the success stories of UK domestic tourism. Our members provide jobs for over 6000 people, and in the rural communities where they are based will often be one of the largest employers. We welcome hundreds of thousands of school children a year onto our farms to teach them about farming and show them where their food comes from.

“The NFAN annual awards celebrate the best of the best in the farm attractions sector; the educators and the innovators, the award winning farm restaurants and the customer service champions. We also recognise the key role played by our industry partners, from the architects and designers to play equipment manufacturers with our Trade Supplier of the Year award.”

The winners will be announced on Wednesday 1st February 2017 at a glittering awards dinner as part of a three day Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition in Brighton. The annual gathering of farm attraction owners and industry suppliers is the highlight event of the year and includes visits to two nearby farm attractions, trade exhibition and conference.

The full list of finalists and details about the Brighton conference and trade exhibition can be found on the NFAN website www.farmattractions.net.

ENDS

Photo Attached

Last year’s Large Farm Attraction Winner, Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley, Yorkshire receiving their award.

Editor’s Notes:

The National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) is the trade association for farm parks and rural attractions in the UK with over 200 farm attraction members and 80 trade members.

NFAN organise training workshops and open days, facilitate networking and represent the interests of farm attractions at a national level. It is an independent not for profit trade association governed by a management committee drawn from the membership and is funded solely by its members.

Visit England research: “Farms have seen the greatest increase in visits, particularly in the last ten years, since the Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001.” Visitor Attraction Trends in England 2015 p.15 – Visit England. https://www.visitbritain.org/annual-survey-visits-visitor-attractions-latest-results

Full list of 2017 Awards Finalists

Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Award (Over 75,000 visitors)

Sponsored by Regency Purchasing

Bocketts Farm Park, Surrey

Fishers Adventure Farm Park, West Sussex

Odds Farm, Buckinghamshire

The Big Sheep, Devon

Walby Farm Park, Cumbria

York Maze, York

Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Award (Under 75,000 visitors)

Sponsored by David Taylor Designs

Cantref Adventure Farm, Powys, Wales

Hall Hill Farm, Durham

Little Owl Farm Park, Worcestershire

Spring Barn Farm Park, East Sussex

Innovation Award

Sponsored by Marsh & Co Insurance

Hasty’s Adventure Farm, Essex

Marsh Farm, Essex

Mead Open Farm, Buckinghamshire

Willows Activity Farm, Hertfordshire

Best Food and Beverage Award

Sponsored by Booker Wholesale

Fishers Adventure Farm Park, West Sussex

Odds Farm, Buckinghamshire

Thrift Farm, Milton Keynes

Walby Farm Park, Cumbria

Best in Education

Sponsored by Colour Heroes

Barleylands, Essex

Bocketts Farm Park, Surrey

Hall Hill Farm, Durham

Stockley Farm Park, Cheshire

Walby Farm Park, Cumbria

Best Digital Presence

Sponsored by Partners Leisure

Cannon Hall Farm, South Yorkshire

Cantref Adventure Farm, Powys, Wales

Odds Farm, Buckinghamshire

Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre, Sheffield

Day Maker Award

Adam Price – Cantref Adventure Farm, Powys, Wales

Danny Mitchard – 4 Kingdoms, Berkshire

Dee Naylor – Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife & Falconry Centre, Sheffield

Fran Smith – Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary, Essex

Graham Barclay – Cotswold Farm Park, Gloucstershire

Jim Thompson – Willows Activity Farm, Hertfordshire

Toni Powell – Walby Farm Park, Cumbria

Best Trade Supplier

Sponsored by NFAN

David Taylor Design, Cornwall

Kids Play Childcare, Milton Keynes

Marsh & Co. Insurance, Leicester

Timberplay, Sheffield

ENDS

For more information and images please contact David Leon info@farmattractions.net or call 01904 615059

www.farmattractions.net