2023 charity donation
A Staffordshire farm park is looking to bring the total amount of money raised for local charities to £20,000 this year as it marks two decades since opening its first family attraction on the site.
The National Forest Adventure Farm, in Tatenhill, which started with a summer maize maze in 2004, has just raised £4,381 for Alzheimer’s Society as part of its yearly commitment to support local charities.
The donation, which will provide much needed research and support to transform the lives of those living with dementia, brings the total amount the 40 acre farm park has raised in the last 4 years to a massive £16,000 with plans to bring the total up to £20,000 through further fund raising this year.
Tom Robinson, who owns the family farm park with brother Ivor, said the National Forest Adventure Farm has grown so much since they first started diversifying with the maize maze in 2004 and it was important that they were able to continue to raise funds to support the local community.
He said: “As an independent family farm park we are passionate about not only delivering great outdoor activities for families to share together, but also supporting the wider community.
“Our family has been based in the area since the 1970’s so the town has a very special place in our hearts, and we are committed to continuing to raise funds each year to help local charities.
“Alzheimer’s Society provides much needed support so that no-one faces dementia alone.
“We are honoured to be able to help in raising funds which go to making a difference to those with Alzheimers as well as their families.”
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the most common form of dementia with symptoms including memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and changes in behaviour. There are currently estimated to be 900,000 people in the UK with dementia.
This year the National Forest Adventure Farm has chosen Burton YMCA as their charity partner and will be holding several fund-raising activities throughout the year to make a difference.
The charity, which supports those facing homelessness as well as providing hundreds of much-needed food parcels, believes that everyone deserves a place to call home. They have 71 rooms over 3 sites to provide accommodation to those facing homelessness as well as providing practical and emotional support to help clients address their past and learn practical skills for the future.
Paula Senior, Fundraising and Partnerships Manager at YMCA, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been picked as the National Forest Adventure Farm chosen charity for 2024. As a local charity supporting over 10,000 people every year, we are looking forward to working with the team and their fundraising will have a direct impact on the local community through the breadth of vital services we provide. Some of the team have already been to meet some of our colleagues and to look around our housing site and their enthusiasm for supporting us is wonderful. We are excited for the year ahead.”
The National Forest Adventure Farm is a family attraction based just outside Burton on Trent on farmland owned by the Robinson family. In 2004 brothers Ivor and Tom started to diversify the farm with the first ever maize maze on the site. They then launched the National Forest Adventure Farm in 2011 after converting agricultural barns to create Scarecrow Joe’s Restaurant, soft play area and animal barns. The attraction was born from a vision by the brothers of providing a fun safe environment in which families can explore and spend time together in the countryside.
Today the farm park contains 40 acres of open space including an animal barn with goats, chickens, pigs, horses, cows, rabbits and guinea pigs, pedal Go-Karts, frisbee golf, Jurassic Canyon sand and fossil dig, tractor rides, JCB Big Dig Zone, giant jumping pillows and its latest addition – the UK’s longest mega slide providing 200ft of outdoor fun.
