Down at the Farm hosts Teddy Bear Hospital

Children visiting a North East farm attraction have a chance to show off their best Ted-side manner this month, by bringing a poorly bear to a very caring Teddy Bear Hospital operating between August 10 and 14.

The Down at the Farm visitor attraction near Houghton-le-Spring is creating its own teddy casualty and admissions ward, so budding young nurses and doctors can help make their own bear better.

The farm’s vet will be on hand to give every teddy a quick medical check, before rewarding concerned children with a certificate and sticker for their thoughtfulness. Mascot Higgley might also look in to see how Ted’s doing.

Once teddy has had the all clear, he can take full part in a Best Dressed Ted competition, where great prizes can be won by dapper teddies turned out in their Monday to Friday finery.

Parents will also be able to take advantage of Teddy meal deals in the café, which will make the cost of dining out in the teddy hospital ‘canteen’ very affordable.

The bear-focused activity will start at 12.00 each day, Monday to Friday, and add to the wide-ranging interactive programme operated by the farm, which opens its gates at 10am. Other things-to-do include grooming donkeys, washing kune kune pigs and tortoises, milking Molly the mechanical cow, walking alpacas and hand feeding deer.

Fun will be on hand, in the shape of a jumping pillow and a new barrel ride. Families can jump on board the tractor and trailer ride to meet the cows and greet them with a “Hup Hup Girlies” cry and little tots can pedal around their own little tractor course.

The Teddy Bear Hospital activity is included within the standard admission price of £4.75 for adults, £3.75 for children aged over two and £3.75 for concessions. Family tickets cost £15 for two adults and two children and £18.75 for two adults and three children.

For more details visit downatthefarm.co.uk. The farm is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm and is located just off the A690, 10 minutes from Sunderland and Durham and 20 minutes from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.