Winners Announced in the Annual Farm Attractions Awards

Shining a spotlight on farm parks, rural attractions and trade businesses all over the UK, winners in the 2020 NFAN Awards were announced on Wednesday 29th January 2020 at Doncaster Racecourse.

With more than 300 delegates in attendance, the NFAN Awards showcase the best in the industry and is classed as the Farm Attraction ‘Oscars’. This year’s glittering awards were part of the three-day annual conference in Yorkshire and were hosted by TV presenter and journalist Christa Ackroyd.

More than 70 nominations from attractions and suppliers around the UK were submitted to the awards this year for consideration in categories including Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Award (Over 75,000 visitors), Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Award (Under 75,000 visitors), Innovation Award, Best Trade Supplier, Best Food and Beverage, Best in Education, Best Digital Presence and Day Maker Award.

The winner of the Large Farm Attraction of the Year (over 75,000 visitors pa) sponsored by Marsh & Co and AXA XL Insurance was Cannon Hall Farm from South Yorkshire. The winner of the Small Farm Attraction of the Year (under 75,000 visitors pa) sponsored by David Taylor Design went to Little Owl Farm Park in Worcestershire.

Other winners on the night were 4 Kingdoms Adventure Farm from Berkshire which won the Innovation Award sponsored by Play Area Hygiene Services, Air Bouncers from Ireland which won Best Trade Supplier Award sponsored by National Farm Attractions Network, Mead Open Farm from Bedfordshire which won Best Food & Beverage sponsored by Booker Wholesale, Cannon Hall Farm from South Yorkshire which won Best Digital Presence sponsored by DigiTickets, Brimham Rocks Adventure Farm from North Yorkshire which won Best in Education sponsored by National Farm Attractions Network and Rhian McIntosh from Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol who won the Day Maker Award sponsored by Playscheme.

Richard Powell, NFAN chairman said, “Over 20 million visits a year are made to UK farm attractions and the annual awards celebrate the best farm parks in the UK. I’d like to congratulate all the winners, highly commended and finalists.”

Photos

Large Farm Attraction Winner Cannon Hall Farm

Small Farm Attraction Winner Little Owl Farm Park

Best Trade Supplier Winner Air Bouncers

A full set of photos can be found on the NFAN website

For hi-res images please contact NFAN as below.

Editor’s Notes

NFAN AWARDS 2020 – Full list of sponsors and recipients:

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

Sponsored by Marsh & Co and AXA XL insurance

Winner – Cannon Hall Farm, South Yorkshire
Highly Commended – York Maze, Yorkshire
Finalists – Bocketts Farm Park, Surrey; Cotswold Farm Park, Gloucestershire

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

Sponsored by David Taylor Design

Winner – Little Owl Farm Park, Worcestershire
Highly Commended – Wynford Farm Park, Aberdeenshire
Finalists – Hall Farm Park, Lincolnshire; Thornton Hall, Yorkshire

Innovation Award

Sponsored by Play Area Hygiene Services

Winner – 4 Kingdoms Adventure Farm, Berkshire
Highly Commended – Heads of Ayr, Ayr
Finalists – Web Adventure Park, Yorkshire; Pennywell Farm, Devon

Best Trade Supplier

Sponsored by NFAN

Winner – Air Bouncers, Ireland
Highly Commended – David Taylor Design, Cornwall
Finalists – Timberplay, South Yorkshire; Teddy Mountain, Devon

Best Food and Beverage Award

Sponsored by Booker Wholesale

Winner – Mead Open Farm, Bedfordshire
Highly Commended – Fishers Adventure Farm Park, West Sussex
Finalists – Walby Farm Park, Cumbria ; Odds Farm Park, Buckinghamshire

Best in Education

Sponsored by NFAN

Winner – Brimham Rocks Adventure Farm, North Yorkshire
Highly Commended – Wynford Farm Park , Aberdeenshire
Finalists – Hall Hill Farm, Durham; Longdown Activity Farm, Southampton

Best Digital Presence

Sponsored by Digitickets

Winner – Cannon Hall Farm, South Yorkshire
Highly Commended – Mead Open Farm, Bedfordshire
Finalists – National Forest Adventure Farm, Staffordshire ; Odds Farm Park, Buckinghamshire

Day Maker Award

Sponsored by Playscheme

Winner – Rhian McIntosh – Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol
Highly Commended – Jennifer Neil – Wynford Farm Park, Aberdeenshire
Finalists – Mick Smith – Web Adventure Park, Yorkshire ; John Melnyk – 4 Kingdoms Adventure Farm, Berkshire; Martin Ruffle – Bocketts

NFAN would also like to thank the following conference sponsors…

Conference Gold Sponsors: Davies & Co, Marsh & Co, Agility Marketing

Awards Dinner Main Sponsor: Lorica Insurance

Awards Dinner Wine Sponsor: Timberplay

Drinks Reception Sponsors: Innovative Leisure

Pink Pig Farm Afternoon Visit Sponsor: Merlinsoft

Yorkshire Wildlife Park Open Day Sponsor: Regency Purchasing

About NFAN

Uniting the Farm Attraction Industry, The National Farm Attractions Network (NFAN) has over 250 Members and is the only independent co-operative for farm and rural attractions. Encouraging best practice and knowledge sharing, NFAN proactively updates members on the latest HSE advice, represents the farm attraction industry at government meetings, runs events including the annual conference and awards, and provides ongoing support and guidance to members.

NFAN began in 1996 through the vision of Jim Keetch, a Farm Park owner in Weldon, Northants. He travelled the country, attending agricultural shows encouraging other farm parks to join. Jim Keetch passed away in 1998, but his name lives on through the Jim Keetch Farm Attraction of the Year Awards now in its 19th year and through his pioneering work in setting up NFAN, a voice for the farm park industry.

For more information and images please contact Jodie Kimble info@farmattractions.net or call 03333 448987.