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Michaela Strachan opens Puxton Park Farm Attraction

TV personality Michaela Strachan today launched one of the biggest new leisure attractions in the south west, a multi-million pound farm attraction near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset which is expecting to attract up to 120,000 visitors a year.

Puxton Park is designed to enable visitors to discover the connection between food, farming and conservation while having a fun day out.

Based around a 70-acre organic dairy farm, the new development has two restaurants - the Meadows restaurant and the Cow Shed Café - and a food hall specialising in high quality local produce. For younger visitors it has a three floor children's play barn, including a 28 foot free fall slide and a separate play area for toddlers, plus an outdoor play area.

The 15-acre site also incorporates a lake with a wildlife hide and several miles of trails, with habitats developed in close collaboration with the Avon Wildlife Trust and other local environmental groups. Visitors can walk through livestock pens and crop displays, and from September will see the dairy herd being milked and find out how the cows are looked after. Information boards will explain the various displays.

Puxton Park is the brainchild of Somerset farmer Derek Mead, whose family has farmed in the area for many generations, and has been developed by his son Alistair.

The design incorporates systems to reduce the environmental impact of the park, with underfloor heating, water minimising systems, recycling facilities and biodegradable packaging, plates and utensils.

Located less than a mile from the M5 near Weston-super-Mare, Puxton Park opens on 7 July 2007. It will be open 7 days a week all year round, with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and is expecting to attract up to 120,000 visitors a year. It will create some 50 full-time equivalent jobs.

"We're delighted to welcome our first visitors to Puxton Park," said project manager Fred McCaig. "Our aim is to help visitors have a great time while learning more about what they eat and where it comes from.

"Puxton Park offers something for every age group: a family day out, a relaxed lunch with friends, an afternoon walking in the park and spotting wildlife or simply a place to buy high quality food from local producers.

"At the same time, by showing people more about food, farming, conservation and recycling we can help them to make more informed choices in the future."

All pathways are fully surfaced to allow full access to visitors with disabilities. All routes have interpretation boards and plenty of information will be available.