Come on down to Ambury Farm Day

7 October 2010

Pull on your gumboots, load up the kids and head for Ambury Regional Park this Sunday. It’s the annual Ambury Farm Day and it promises to be a spectacular free family day out.

Ambury Farm Day, Sunday 10 October 2010, 10am – 4pm

Ambury Regional Park ranger and long-time farm day organiser Janine Nillesen says Ambury Farm Day is a celebration of farming and outdoor recreation for all Aucklanders.

“Farm day is a fun community event that connects city people with country life,” says Janine. “We’re looking forward to another bumper crowd this year!

“Make sure you register (before 12pm) for ‘Farm Idol’ on the big stage too,” says Janine.

Come along and see farming and recreational displays, demonstrations and wood chopping, sheep shearing, face painting, butter and felt making, farm animal petting and feeding.  There will be vintage tractor displays, pony rides, horse and carriage rides, sack races, hay bale rolling, gumboot throwing, and more. 

There is a small charge for the pony, tractor, bullock rides and bouncy castles and there are some EFTPOS facilities on site. Families can bring a picnic or buy a snack from the many food stalls or community groups.

One of 26 regional parks managed by the Auckland Regional Council (ARC), Ambury Regional Park is a working farm with a variety of cattle and sheep as well as pet lambs, goats, chickens, pigs, a horse, turkeys, rabbits, and peacocks. Dogs are not permitted at Ambury Regional Park because of the threat to native birds and farm animals.

This year you can visit the ARC village and see many of the different services your regional council provides, including the Great Drain Game (pollution response), a biosecurity shooting gallery, public transport information and regional park information.

The first Ambury Farm Day was held in spring 1988 and approximately 200 people attended. By the early 1990s attendance had hit 5,000 and by 1998 this had nearly tripled. Over the last five years, numbers have fluctuated between 18,000 to a whopping 35,000 (2009). Fluctuations are largely due to weather – 2009 brought sunshine, clear blue skies and firm ground underfoot.

To get to Ambury Regional Park, take the airport motorway to Mangere Bridge and follow the signs to the park.

ENDS

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