Fermanagh Fun Farm C.I.C
Social Enterprise
(not for profit making organisation)

Making Memories for all the Family

Home to over 150 rescued / adopted animals.

Fermanagh Fun Farm is a social enterprise (Not for profit making) C.I.C organisation.  The farm is a ​ visitor attraction and a social farm, for adults with learning difficulties to develop life skills, gain experience and gain qualifications.  

The farm is a leisure attraction open to the public, providing a fun, engaging, hands on experience.  We also cater for school visits, group visits and birthday parties.  The farm is home to over 100 animals (20+ species).  All animals are treated as pets and the majority of animals are rescued / adopted.   We have a wide range of farm animals living onsite and pet animals too.  Check out our attractions page to see the range of animals we have on offer.

Activities / Facilities
* Animal Feeding 
*Cuddle Time in Pets Corner,
* Pony Walking & Grooming,
* Feeding Animals,
* Trailer and Quad Ride to Cow Patch,
* Indoor and Outdoor Playareas (New softplayframe for 2023)
* Picnic Area / Tearoom / Gift Shop


Our video shows you an insight to our attraction.
https://www.facebook.com/2386437531387597/videos/809554736678553

Fermanagh Fun Farm is also a social farm, for adults with learning difficulties.  This involves projects such as farming, gardening, hospitality and drama.  Keep an eye on our social media platforms for more information on these projects.



Fermanagh Fun Farm
4 Slate Quarry Lane
Lisbellaw
BT94 5EE

Telephone: 02866 385060
fermanaghopenfarm@hotmail.com

Sponsor an Animal
Fermanagh Fun Farm is home to many resuced and adopted animals. Animals are given a home on the farm, for life.  There are around 150 animals, across 20 species living on the farm.  It costs around £10,000 a year, to provide for their medical care, to keep them warm and comfortable, to feed them and provide them with activities to prevent boredom.  

To help cover these costs, we offer the geneal public, visitors and community groups the opporunity to sponsor an animal. There are various packages to suit all budgets.

New Packages for 2024
Bronze Package - £30 per year (1 person)
  • One free admission ticket
  • An animal adoption certificate (choose an animal you wish to adopt)
  • A photograph of your adopted animal 
  • Your name added to our adoption wall (for 1 year)

Silver Package - £50 per year (1 person)
  • One free admission ticket
  • An animal adoption certificate (choose an animal you wish to adopt)
  • A photograph of your adopted animal
  • Your name added to our adoption wall (for 1 year)
  • Birthday and Christmas Cards from your animal.

Gold Account - £100 per year (Businesses, Community Groups & Schools)
  • Be the only sponsor
  • Sponsor board displayed at this enclosure 
  • Free photograph and cerficate 
  • Regular updates from animals in the enclosure
  • Birthday and Christmas Cards from your animal.







New Birthday Package - Build a Bear Experience

We are delighted to team up with Teddytastic to bring the build a bear experience to Fermanagh for only £19.95 per child.

Learn More

Be a Famer Party Experience

The ideal party for all animal lovers - Join our animals for a fun birthday party with family and friends. During your visit you'll get to enjoy: * Feeding the animals * Handling Small Pets * Groom the ponies and take them for a walk * Quad and Trailer Ride * Use of indoor and outdoor playarea * Use of party cabin Prices £9.50 per child (no food supplied) £14.95 (including hot food and drink for each child) Under 2's £2.00 (no food) (£7.50) with food Under 6 months Free (no food) Adult Prices - 1 free adult per child. Please note party cabin holds a max of 20 people. Min number of paying children (8) Extras Hot food for each child (cocktail sausages / chicken nuggets, juice & chips) Adults Platter of sandwiches, tray bakes, tea & coffee £6.50 per adult Or Platter of sandwiches, tea & coffee £5.00 per adult Platter of chips, cocktail sausages, chicken goujons, tea & coffee £8.00 per adult

School Trips / Group Trips

Learn More

Do I have to prebook to visit?

You don't need to pre-book unless its an event day.  You can pay on arrival.  We take cash or card.

However, if you book in advance online, you get a discount.




What animals do you have on the farm?

* Donkeys
* Miniature Horse
* Shetland Ponies
* Horses
* Sheep
*Cows
* Alpacas
* Hens
* Roosters
* Ducks
* Guinea Fowl Birds
* Peacocks
* Geese
* Pigeons
* Turkeys
* Pigs
* Goats
* Deer
* Rabbits
* Giant Rabbits
* Guinea Pigs
* Hamsters
* Chinchillas
* Chimpmunks
* Meerkats





What Activities & Facilities do you offer?


* Self guided tour of the farm

* Animal Feeding - You'll be given a basket of food to feed the animals. One free basket of food is given per booking. Additional baskets can be purchased at our ticket office for £1.

* Pony Grooming and Walking - Have a chance to learn how to groom a pony and then take the pony for a walk on their lead. Keep an eye on our website as some days instead of donkeys we use ponies.

* Play-time. - Relax and spend time in our outdoor and indoor play-area. which includes a soft play frame suitable for children 7 or under.

* Quad & Trailer Ride - Jump on board and have a ride around our cow patch.

*Indoor and Outdoor Picnic Area - Bring a picnic and enjoy some relaxing time at our picnic areas.

* Tearoom - selling a range of hot / cold food and drink

* Giftshop - Selling a range of merchandise and farm related toys.




Check out our video
Our video shows you an insight to our attraction.
https://www.facebook.com/2386437531387597/videos/809554736678553

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What are your opening hours?

Opening (March - June)
Sat - 11am - 5.00pm
Sun - 11am - 5pm
Last Admission4.00pm


Extra Opening Days in 2024
Monday 18th March
Fri 29th Mar - Sun 7th April
Mon 6th May
Mon 27th May
Mon 28th Oct - Wed 30th Oct

Jul and Aug - Open daily Tuesday - Sunday (Closed Monday)

Sept
Sat 11am - 5pm
Sun 12pm - 5pm
Last day of 2023 season - Sat 5th Oct

The farm is also available to hire in the evenings.
January - Closed
February - Closed

Prices


Adult £8.50
Child £9.50 (
Family of 4 £32.50
Family of 5 £39.50( then £5.50 per person there after)
Under 2's£2
Under 6 months - Free

Price includes: 

* Basket of food to feed animals (1 basket per booking)
* Pony Walking & Grooming Activity
* Pet Handling Session
* Quad and Trailer Ride around the cow patch
* Picnic Area
* Indoor Playarea
* Outdoor Playarea 

Group Bookings
To find out about our large group booking rates please contact our sales office. 02866385060. We have great offers for groups over 15 people. We can also be contacted using our facebook page.

2024 Group Prices (for groups 15+)
£7.00 Per Person (Silver Package + £3 per child for Gold Package)
Adult: Free per 10 children (£3.50 thereafter)


https://www.facebook.com/Fermanagh-Fun-Farm-Lisbellaw-2386437531387597/?ref=bookmarks

Where is the Farm?

The Farm is allocated on the outskirts of Lisbellaw villiage.  Our adderss is 4 Slate Quarry Lane, Lisbellaw, BT94 5EE.  Visit our contact us page for a map to find the farm.

The farm is located next to Lisbellaw village, just off the main A4 Belfast to Enniskillen Road.  

Are Dogs Allowed?

No dogs are allowed on the farm, to protect our animals and to prevent any fear put unto our animals.  Guide dogs are welcome.

Events

2024 Events will be added soon.

Sat 2nd Mar - Grand Opening for Season (Bottle Feeding Lambs)
Sun 17th Mar- St Patricks Day - Forklore Event
Fri 29th - Sun 31st Mar - Easter Weekend Trail and Egg Hunt
Sun 14th Apr - Henry the Goats 5th Birthday
Sun 28th Apr - Viking Day
Mon 6th May - May Day Fayre
Sat 6th Jul - Farms 5th Birthday Party
Wed 17th Jul - Super Hero's Day
Wed 14th Aug - Magic Show
Sat 19th Oct - Wed 30th Oct - Halloween Experience
Sat 30th Nov - Sun 22nd Dec - Christmas Experience

£20

Donation Amount

Being a Social Enterprise Information imageBeing a Social Enterprise Information imageBeing a Social Enterprise Information image
What is a Social Enterprise Business?
Social enterprises are businesses. Unlke a charity, their main income comes from trade (not donations). However, like a charity, all profits must be used for the benefit of the community and 0% of profits are distributed to the owner or the shareholders (if any are available).

All profits from Fermanagh Fun Farm are used to care for our animals, provide volunteering opporunities for people who have an additional support need or mental health. Surplus profits are use for maintaince and to add new facilties to the attraction along with supporting community groups / events.


The Vision of Fermanagh Fun Farm as a Social Enterprise
Background


Farm Attraction
2019
In early 2019, the idea of Fermanagh Fun Farm came about by local primary school teacher, Mr Alan Potters, after he felt there was a gap in the market for a fun farm attraction in the Fermanagh area. At this time, the nearest fun farm attraction was in other counties such as Tyrone and Ballyshannon, all over an hours drive away. The idea of a fun farm attraction came to Alan, while he was teaching in Scotland and had visited a few farm attractions as part of school trips.

Fermanagh Fun Farm is located on the Potters family farm. The farm has been passed down through the Potters family for generations. The farm had been a diary farm and about 10 years ago converted to a beef / sheep farm. The farm was operated by Dickie and William Potters. After Dickie's passing in Nov 17, after a short illness, the farm lay disused. During this period, the farm was starting to fall into a poor state and alot of work was needed done, before the buildings and yard were suitable for public use. 20 months later and Fermanagh Fun Farm was born.

Fermanagh Fun Farm C.I.C was first opened to the public on Sat 6th July 2019. The aim of the farm was to create a fun, educational, hands on, active learning experience for members of the public, while being a home to to rescued and adopted animals. All animals were to be treated as pets and given a home for life on the farm. No animals were to be working animals or used for any food production. This is a commitment, we still stand by, to today. The farm became home to around 20 animals who were rescued from local sanctuaries or donated by local farms, who liked our ethos. We had rabbits, guinea pigs, ponies, donkeys, pigs, goats, hens and roosters. Visitors to the farm had to pre-book to visit. Small groups of visitors had a guided tour to meet the animals, a handling session in pets corner and a chance to learn about pony grooming and take ponies for a walk. A small tuck shop was available onsite and picnic area with a tractor and trailer climbing frame. The farm was open daily all summer and weekends during the autumn. The farm had there very first Halloween pumpkin carving experience at the end of Oct and then closed for the season, to reopen 5 months later in March 2020.

2020
As a social enterprise, all profits from 2019 were used to care for our animals to provide them with their food and medical care needed. The committee applied for grant funding to be able to add more attractions to the farm and rescue more animals. We also used the profits to purchase some animals, to extend the range of animals on display.

We had new arrivals of animals of turkeys, ducks, silkie hens, guinea fowl birds, peacocks, miniature horse, meerkats, gerbils, hamsters and cows were added to our collection. We also got funding from the National Lottery to build a new outdoor playarea. We also got funding from DEARA to purchase indoor playarea toys and furniture, and flooring for our new tearoom. The local council give us funding to build a new toilet block area.

A loan was got to be able to do some ground work such as building a car park (cost approx £10,000), putting fencing and safety measures in place around the new outdoor playarea and converting a disused sillage pit into a indoor playground.

2021
2021 seen the farm being expanded again by introducing horses, alpacas and a lama to our collection. Different breeds or cows and sheep were added to the mix too. The farm was extended by adding more picnic areas and a new quad a trailer rider. Profits from 2020 were used to expand the carpark, build new pathways around the attraction, paint all external walls and upgrade pets corner.

2022
Profits, from 2021 were used to farm continue to expand by adding art work to the external walls and adding a funfair area of pedal boats and cups and saucers. The quad and trailer ride was upgraded too. A new log cabin was purchased to be used as a birthday party room too. Surplus profits were also donated to local organisations.

2022 was the year we started to expand what we had to offer at the farm. See list below.

* Training and Employment
Alan an experienced school teacher has worked in both the primary and secondary school sector, with pupils with additional support needs. While working in this sector, he noticed that his pupils, had less opportunities to gain paid employment or work experiences. By providing opportunities for employment, volunteering and gaining national qualifications at the farm, he hopes to enhance young peoples opportunity to be able to gain paid employment or voluntary work. With agricultural & tourism being the biggest employment areas of Co Fermanagh, providing learning and training in both areas, gives young people more of a chance of gaining employment.

* An Education Service
Onsite & Offsite educational workshops will be provided for schools . These will be linked to the Northern Ireland Curriculum from foundation stage to Keystage 4. Areas of the curriculum will be "The World Around Us" & GCSE agricultural, tourism, business studies, food & nutrition, preparation for working life, work and life skills.

* Mental Health
We have started to work with local public organisations whose role is to support people in the community suffering from mental health. Working in partnership with these organisations, and with the use of our animals we have been able to support people with mental health through our animals enrichment programme. Many people talk about the benefits being around the animals have helped with their health and well-being.



2023 - 2024
The committee continue to have a vision to expand the attraction. Our AGM takes place in Sept, where an action plan was created for the forthcoming year. Our customer feedback is used as the foundation for making these decisions, with the committee deciding on the next stages..

New for 2024
We have developed a partnership with Killideas Day Care Centre, for adults with a learning disability and are now working ​in partnership with various ​programmes onsite to develop life skills, reduce isolation and help adults' gain qualifications.  Projects involve hospitability (running a weekly coffee morning), caring for animals, gardening and drama. 






Mission Statement

Fermanagh Fun Farm will be a home to many rescued and adopted animals. All animals will be given a home for life and treated as a pet. Staff / volunteers will be trained in animal care and welfare to ensure all animals have their 5 freedoms met.

Aims

To provide our visitors with a fun, educational, hands on experience, helping create memories for all the family. To ensure our animals are well cared for and continually to have their 5 freedoms met. To provide adults with a disability with the opportunity to develop life skills, reduce isolation and gain formal qualifications.

Objectives

Provide a first-class experience for visitors to our attraction through providing an enrich educational experience, good facilities and excellent customer care. To give visitors a hands on experience of life on a farm from handling animals to feeding animals. To protect the welfare of our animals. To provide a first class educational programme to local schools inline with the Northern Ireland Curriculum. To enhance the public's knowledge of life on a farm through seasonal workshops, open days and events. EG, sheep shearing days, lambing, farmers market etc. To become a profitable business and reinvest profits into providing great care for our animals and adding / upgrading attractions to enhance our visitors experience. To provide the community with meaningful opportunities to gain formal qualifications and experience, working in a real life setting.

Health and Safety  image
We at Fermanagh Fun Farm take your health and safety very seriously and have put in measures, to minimise any risks, while visiting the farm.

By law we must inform you, all animals naturally carry some micro organisms, which can be transmitted to humans where they may cause ill health. Whilst the hazards are real, the risk of infection is low and can be readily controlled by following these simple practical steps which will make your visit even more safe, healthy and enjoyable.

Feeding and Touching the Animals
  • You MUST ensure that you and your children wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the animals and particularly before consuming food and drink.  Sanitizer is not effective at killing all germs, found on a farm and must not be used. 
  • You MUST ensure that children under five are supervised by a responsible adult, whilst washing their hands.
  • Washing facilities are located in the pets corner, toilet block and outside the playbarn.
  • DO NOT – consume food or drink in the animal areas. 
  • Expecting mothers should refrain from handling all sheep and lambs during the lambing season.
  • When feeding animals do so at your own risk.  Animals can bite.
  • Most of our animals enjoy a cuddle. If you would like to hold an animal please ask a member of staff.
  • DO NOT – enter any animal enclosure unless invited to do so by a member of staff.
Smoking
Smoking is NOT permitted anywhere on our premises. A smoking area is available at the side of the tearoom (road side).

Disclaimer
Customers coming to the farm must make themselves aware of this and the procedures in place, before coming to the farm. Fermanagh Fun Farm can't be held liable, as we have put measures in place to minimise this risk.

 Links

Places to Stay in Fermanagh https://www.motel.co.uk/ (5miles from the farm) https://belle-isle.com/ (3 miles from the farm) https://discovernorthernireland.com/accommodation/clitana-p677691 (next door to the farm) https://www.campingni.com/the-fairy-tree-motorhome-park (1 mile from the farm) https://riverside-farm.com/ (10 miles from farm) Places to visit in CO Fermanagh https://www.corralea.com/ www.bluegreenyonder.com https://www.sharevillage.org/ https://marblearchcaves.co.uk/ https://www.fermanaghlakelands.com/