🦙 Farm Keeper Experience for Kids - Meet Piper the Llama
Exclusive behind-the-scenes farm keeper adventure where children care for Piper our friendly llama in this hands-on family experience
Meet Piper - your child's gentle llama friend for the morning
🎯 Kids Farm Keeper Experience Overview
🦙 Become a Farm Keeper for the Morning - Meet Piper
Join our friendly young llama Piper for an exclusive farm keeper experience where kids get behind-the-scenes hands-on care at our working farm
🌟 What's Included in Your Farm Keeper Experience for Kids
Children work one-on-one with our dedicated farm keeper for an exclusive hands-on learning experience with real farm duties
Farm Keeper Morning Welcome
Start at 9:00 AM with a personal introduction to your dedicated farm keeper and meet Piper our friendly llama
Hands-On Feeding Experience
Kids help prepare and feed the alpacas and Piper, learning about farm animal dietary needs and feeding routines
Real Farm Keeper Duties
Experience real farm work - lay out hay, learn proper animal care, and help with 15 minutes of mucking out like a real keeper
Walk with Your Llama
Take Piper for a gentle walk around the beautiful Itchen Valley Country Park - just you, your family, and Piper
Farm Keeper Education
Learn fascinating facts about llama care, alpaca behaviour, and their South American heritage from our expert keeper
Capture the Memories
Take amazing photos of your child as a farm keeper with Piper - perfect for family albums and social media!
Break Time
Enjoy a short break - bring your own snack or picnic to share with your family
Shop Visit
Visit our shop before heading home around 12:15 PM with special llama souvenirs
⚠️ Important Farm Keeper Experience Booking Information
Gates Close at 08:55 AM - No late entry allowed for this exclusive experience
📍 Farm Keeper Experience Location - Itchen Valley Country Park Southampton
Easy to reach from Southampton, Winchester, Eastleigh, Portsmouth & surrounding Hampshire areas - perfect for a kids farm keeper day out
🏠 Farm Keeper Experience Address
Hensting Alpacas
Itchen Valley Country Park
Allington Lane, West End
Southampton, SO30 3HQ
Phone: 0333 050 4012
What3Words: ///worker.dangerously.worked
🚗 Farm Keeper Experience Parking
Parking Costs:
Short stay: £3.30
Full day: £5.30
Look for the Alpaca sign near the first car park on arrival. Our staff will be ready to welcome you!
👢 What Kids Need for Farm Keeper Experience
Clothing: Old clothes suitable for farm work (may get muddy!)
Footwear: Sturdy outdoor shoes or wellies
Snacks: Bring your own snacks for the refreshment break
Wellington boots available to hire during muddy conditions - this is a real working farm experience!
🦙 What Kids Learn During Their Farm Keeper Experience
Children discover fascinating llama facts while working as a real farm keeper for the morning
Ancient Heritage
Llamas are members of the camelid family and were domesticated in Peru over 6,000 years ago for transport, wool, and meat.
Big & Strong
Llamas can weigh up to 300 lbs and live around 25–30 years. They're much larger than their alpaca cousins!
Standing Birth
Female llamas usually give birth standing up, and their babies are called "crias" just like alpaca babies.
Year-Round Breeding
Unlike many animals, llamas don't follow heat cycles and can breed throughout the year.
Humming Communication
Llamas hum to communicate with each other - you might hear Piper humming during your visit!
Smart & Trainable
Llamas are intelligent and can learn commands. Some are even used for therapy or as livestock guards!
Spitting Truth
While llamas can spit, it's usually reserved for other llamas - not humans! Piper is very well-mannered.
South American Roots
Llamas remain central to agriculture in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, where they've been companions for millennia.
🤔 Farm Keeper Education - Llamas vs Alpacas
During the farm keeper experience, kids learn the fascinating differences between llamas and alpacas
🦙 Llamas
- Size: Larger and stronger than alpacas
- Ears: Distinctive banana-shaped ears
- Purpose: Used as pack animals and for meat in South America
- Temperament: Gentle but more independent
- Ancestry: Descended from guanacos
- Wool: Coarser than alpaca fleece
🦙 Alpacas
- Size: Smaller and more delicate
- Ears: Short, straight, pointed ears
- Purpose: Prized for ultra-soft fleece
- Temperament: Gentle and social
- Ancestry: Evolved from vicuñas
- Fleece: Incredibly fine and soft
Both were domesticated by ancient South American cultures and continue to be cherished worldwide for their gentle nature and usefulness.
📸 Farm Keeper Experience Memories That Last a Lifetime
During your farm keeper experience, we encourage you to capture photos of your child working with Piper - these make incredible keepsake memories! Piper is very photogenic and loves the camera. We also love posting to social media, so your child's farm keeper adventure may be shared with our online followers.
Many families return year after year to see how Piper's grown and to repeat the farm keeper experience. Children treasure these hands-on farm memories for years to come - it's an experience they'll never forget!
🌟 Why Parents Love Our Farm Keeper Experience for Kids
Not just a farm visit - a real hands-on keeper experience that teaches responsibility, animal care, and confidence
👨🌾 Real Farm Keeper Duties
Unlike typical farm visits, children do actual keeper work - feeding, mucking out, grooming, and walking. They learn what it really takes to care for farm animals.
🎯 One-on-One Attention
Your child works directly with a dedicated farm keeper for the entire morning - no crowds, no waiting, just personalized attention and learning.
🦙 Meet Piper - A Gentle Friend
Piper is calm, friendly, and loves meeting children. This isn't a zoo experience - it's an intimate farm keeper day with a llama who becomes your child's friend.
📚 Educational & Fun
Perfect for homeschool groups, animal-loving kids, or children considering animal care careers. They learn biology, responsibility, and empathy through hands-on work.
🎁 Perfect Gift Experience
Ideal birthday present for kids aged 3-16. Much more memorable than toys - this farm keeper experience creates lifelong memories and sparks a love of animals.
🌳 Beautiful Location
Itchen Valley Country Park offers 440 acres of stunning Hampshire countryside. Easy parking, facilities on-site, and you can explore the park after your keeper experience.
🔍 Find Our Farm Keeper Experience
Searching for farm keeper experience for kids near me? Located in Southampton, Hampshire, our junior farm keeper experience is perfect for children aged 3+ who love animals. We offer a unique hands-on farm experience where kids work as real farm keepers with Piper our llama. Unlike typical farm visits, this is a genuine behind-the-scenes farm experience with actual keeper duties. Perfect kids farm keeper day out serving Southampton, Winchester, Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Romsey, and surrounding Hampshire areas. Book your farm animal keeper experience today!
🎥 Meet Piper - Your Child's Farm Keeper Friend
Watch Piper having fun at the farm - this is the gentle, friendly llama your child will care for during their keeper experience!
Piper loves rolling around and playing! During your farm keeper experience, children get to interact with Piper, learn about llama behaviour, and help with real farm keeper duties.
🦙 Book Your Kids Farm Keeper Experience Today!
Give your child an unforgettable farm keeper adventure with Piper our friendly llama - the perfect hands-on farm experience for animal-loving kids
Book Your Farm Keeper Experience NowQuestions? Call 0333 050 4012 or email info@alpacas-hampshire.co.uk