A Durham tourist attraction is celebrating 30 years in the business this April. Hall Hill Farm first opened as an attraction on 12 April 1981, inviting people to come and see their lambs during the lambing season. The working farm opened its gates to visitors after showing lots of friends and family around the farm at lambing time - and the attraction grew from there. 30 years on and Hall Hill Farm now has several breeds of sheep which lamb during March and April. The first lambs arrived this year on March 11. To celebrate the pearl anniversary on 12 April this year the first 30 families will only pay 1981 prices - 50p for adults and 25p for children over 3.

30 Years of Fun and Frolics at a Durham Farm
 
A Durham tourist attraction is celebrating 30 years in the business this April.
 
Hall Hill Farm first opened as an attraction on 12 April 1981, inviting people to come and see their lambs during the lambing season. The working farm opened its gates to visitors after showing lots of friends and family around the farm at lambing time – and the attraction grew from there.
 
30 years on and Hall Hill Farm now has several breeds of sheep which lamb during March and April. Visitors can now bottle feed the pet lambs, see fluffy chicks, inquisitive goats, magnificent Highland Cattle and get close to children’s favourites such as guinea pigs and rabbits, as well as enjoy a tractor or donkey ride around the beautiful countryside. The first lambs arrived this year on March 11.
 
To celebrate the pearl anniversary on 12 April this year the first 30 families will only pay 1981 prices – 50p for adults and 25p for children over 3.
 
“I never dreamt how much the business would grow. In those early days we were a working farm, opening at Lambing time so that everyone could see the lambs.  Animals and visitors have always been at the heart of this attraction and we have been really touched by the support we have had from the public in both good times and bad,” said Ann Darlington, Tourism Manager, Hall Hill Farm.
 
“This is really a celebration for all of our staff and visitors who have supported us through the past 30 years.”
 
Over the past 30 years the farm attraction has grown in size and popularity, now welcoming nearly 60,000 visitors every year.
 
However in 2001 the farm was devastated by Foot & Mouth, closing for the entire year and losing most of their animals including sheep, cattle, pigs llamas, goats and deer. Ann’s determination to re-open the attraction deservedly saw her named NFU North-East farming ambassador of the year. The hard work paid off with the farm currently the North East England Tourism Experience of the Year and the National Farm Attraction of the Year.
 
Hall Hill Farm is still very much a family business.  The 720 acre farm near Lanchester, Co Durham has been in the Gibson family for 86 years.  Ann’s Grandparents, John Henry and Edwina Gibson came to the farm in 1925 and it is now owned by Jack & Pat Gibson. Their son David runs the working farm and livery and daughter Ann Darlington manages the Visitor Enterprise. The farm also now has the fourth generation of the family Ann’s son Richard (19) very much involved in the farm too and studying agriculture at Askhan Bryan agricultural college in York.
The farm is now open daily for the new tourist season from 10.30am - 5.00pm until the autumn.  You can find Hall Hill Farm on Facebook and Twitter (@HallHillFarm) and at www.hallhillfarm.co.uk
ENDS
 
Images attached:
1. Hall Hill farm celebrates 30 years with parents and children from Newburn Manor Nursery
2. Hall Hill farm family - David Gibson, Pat Gibson, Ann Darlington, Jack Gibson, Richard Darlington
3. Ann Darlington with children from Newburn Manor Nursery

For more information or to interview Ann Darlington please contact:
Debbie Sharratt, Deb Sharratt Communications,
T: 0191 2759124 / 07963 955280
e: debbie.sharratt@gmail.com
or call Ann Darlington on T: 07980011124

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