This year, we were lucky enough to be invited to attend Westlands Farm Shop's annual Lambing Event, a wonderful springtime tradition that invites families to get up close and personal with newborn lambs and learn about British farming practices in the heart of the Meon Valley. I’ll be honest—we weren’t familiar with Westlands before, but after this visit, we were incredibly impressed!
We arrived at our pre-booked time slot and were promptly directed inside. The farm shop’s lambing event isn’t just about meeting the lambs—there's a whole array of activities for families to enjoy! From a bouncy castle for the kids to face painting and mouthwatering food from the grill, there was something for everyone. The event is thoughtfully organized, and the time slots are carefully planned to prevent overwhelming the animals. This ensures that the lambs get the attention they deserve without too many people handling them at once, which we really appreciated.
The highlight of the event, of course, was meeting the lambs. Mason fell head over heels for a particularly sweet lamb who was so comfortable she ended up falling asleep in his lap! It was such a precious moment, and it was clear that the lambs were well cared for and at ease with the visitors.
After a lovely time with the lambs, we decided to explore the rest of the event. Mason was beyond thrilled to spot the bouncy castle, which is always a hit with kids. And since the grill area was conveniently located in the same barn, we figured it was the perfect time to grab a bite to eat while Mason bounced away.
All the food on offer was from the farm shop itself, and it didn’t disappoint! We enjoyed freshly grilled burgers and hot dogs, which were absolutely delicious. There were also farm-themed cupcakes, which I learned came from a local bakery called CupCakes Express Mason chose a sheep-themed cupcake, and he loved every bite!
For those who prefer to bring their own meals, there’s a lovely picnic area where you can relax and enjoy your food surrounded by the farm’s natural beauty. But, since we were there to sample Westlands’ own produce, we opted to try their offerings—and we were so glad we did!
In addition to the lambs, food, and bouncy castle, the event also featured face painting and colorful hair braids, which were a huge hit with other visitors, though we didn’t partake this time. It was clear that the event was thoughtfully organized to appeal to guests of all ages, and everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time.
When we finally managed to drag Mason away from the bouncy castle, we made our way over to the farm shop itself. I had done a bit of research before our visit and learned that Westlands is a true family business. They first started at farmer’s markets before opening their farm shop in 2001. Their commitment to ethical farming and environmental sustainability shines through in everything they do.
The farm shop is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact, and they encourage customers to reuse, reduce, and recycle. They offer a wide range of gravity-fill dispensers, loose fruit and veg, and even a milk vending machine where you can bring your own reusable containers to avoid unnecessary packaging.
The shop was filled with fresh, beautiful produce, and I couldn’t resist picking up some lovely fresh vegetables to take home.
We visited on the last day of the event, so unfortunately, the opportunity to meet the lambs for this season has ended. But we’ll definitely be back next year for the lambing event! In the meantime, Westlands Farm Shop is open year-round, seven days a week. Their hours are Monday–Saturday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
If you’re looking to stock up on fresh, local produce, we highly recommend a visit to Westlands Farm Shop. It’s a fantastic place to experience the best of British farming while supporting a family-run business with a real commitment to sustainability.
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