JohnThe new play barn at Temple Newsam’s Home Farm is set to open to the public later this month after works to convert the old cow byre have been completed.
The barn now hosts two play areas, one suitable for up to 12-year-olds and a second one built for toddlers. Both take inspiration from the farm and the park, bringing the great outdoors inside.
Older children are invited to fully immerse themselves in the main room with big slides, puzzles to solve and castles to climb. The toddler room offers soft play, a separate seating area and a dedicated sensory hut.
The barn is also home to a comfortable café serving drinks and light meals and a shop with farm-themed souvenirs and produce.
Entrance to the play barn is included in the Home Farm ticket price and play sessions must be booked in advance to ensure a good experience for all. Each session lasts for 90 minutes and tickets give all-day access to the farm.
The cow byre and its surrounding buildings were built over 100 years ago and were used as a milking parlour to provide clean tuberculin-tested milk to the hospitals in Leeds. The building and production systems were state of the art for their time and by the 1940s, had Shorthorn cows producing over 70,000 gallons of milk each year.
The council ceased dairy farming in 1968 and after that time the building had various other uses including being a vehicle depot for the council’s parks department and even being home to West Yorkshire Police’s stables in the 1970s.
The new play barn will open on 20 September.
Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said: “We’re very excited for the play barn to be opening to the public. I’ve been there to have a peek at it and I’m sure it will prove a big hit with Temple Newsam’s younger visitors. Combined with the farm and estate grounds it makes the perfect family day out.”
The farm and play barn are open seven days a week and closed only on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. Tickets can be booked at Home Farm and Play Barn at Temple Newsam.
Admission to the farm and play barn is £9. There is an introductory offer running currently where general admission is £4.50 per person (adult and child) weekdays during term time. Under 3s always go free.
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