Local farmer on the move to expand popular children’s activity farm

Local business woman, Anne Gow has purchased Henleaze Farm, near Fernham to develop the site and expand her successful Children’s Activity Farm, Farmer Gow’s with funding from Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank.

Farmer Gow’s in Appleton is open all year round, catering primarily to families and school children, giving them the opportunity to learn about the animals and get a taste of country life. In addition, Farmer Gow’s runs a successful farm shop and offers wide range of activities for visitors, including woodland walks, picturesque picnic areas and tractor rides.

Anne Gow, farmer and owner of Farmer Gow’s said: “The success of the activity farm has been phenomenal, attracting around 30,000 visitors a year. TV programmes such as Jimmy’s Farm, show people what the countryside has to offer and the animals are hugely popular with the children. In addition, the move towards local, traditionally reared food has helped to increase sales in the farm shop. I am thrilled to be moving to Henleaze Farm as it gives me the opportunity to expand the business and introduce new attractions for visitors to enjoy.”

Work is due to start next week on the new farm and completion is planned for early next year. The existing farm at Appleton will remain open to the public until the new look Farmer Gow’s in Fernham is completed.

Dominic Edgar, Senior Relationship Manager at Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank said: “The popularity of Farmer Gow’s continues to grow and the move to Henleaze Farm will provide Anne with the space she needs to expand the business, implement her ideas and improve the facilities.”

Dominic Edgar continues: “The success of the farm is down to Anne’s hard work and enthusiasm for the business, as well as her strong business model and understanding of her target market. With work due to start shortly on the new activity farm, Anne is already looking to the future and putting plans in place for further development of the site, including planting a woodland in conjunction with the Oxfordshire Woodland Project.”