Jimmy's Farm - Winter 2022

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A magazine for Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park Winter 2022 Free Publication at a year! And the best is yet to come... LEARN WITH FUN NEW SCHOOL WORKSHOPS Exclusive interview with cameraman Doug Allan MY WILD ADVENTURES Come and meet our seven pups CAPYBARA CRAZY Android Download our brand new app! iOS

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Winter Issue

Where has this year gone? As I write this, it’s hard to believe we’re in the midst of Christmas again. I’ve just been told I’ve been given the job of helping to wrap all the presents for our ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events!

I couldn’t be prouder of my team when I think of all we have achieved this year – from a new adventure play area to a camel birth, a new ticket o ce and everything in between! is year has de nitely been one of developing our attraction, ensuring our visitors have the best experience possible, time a er time.

2022 has been made all that more special as we have celebrated our 20th anniversary. e celebrations were kicked o by a surprise party put on by our sta and we have continued them throughout the year with a trail, reworks and so much more.

To mark our 20th anniversary, I have written a book called ‘Tales from Jimmy’s Farm’. It shares my crazy journey from a childhood dream of owning a wildlife park to the reality. You can purchase a copy online or from e Farm Shop onsite!

You won’t believe the exciting things we have planned for next year. Mark my words – you won’t want to miss it!

A er all, isn’t a 21st birthday the biggest celebration?

From the bottom of mine and Caela’s heart, thank you for your support this year, it means the world to us.

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you a
and
and we
you
Jimmy @jimmysfarmmag @jimmysfarm @jimmysfarmmag @jimmysfarmhq follow Jimmy too: @jimmysfarm @jimmysfarmmag @jimmysfarmhq @jimmys_farm_weddings
Wishing
happy
healthy new year
hope
will continue to join our journey. Welcome

Winter Issue

06 Shopping

Pick up a gi or spoil yourself at the fabulous shops here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park – nd out what’s new in e Farm Shop with Commercial Operations Manager, Kirsty Dupée.

12 News

Animal Collections Manager, Sophie Ryder, chats about our capybara pups, Su olk Punch foals and all the other new arrivals.

18 Friends for life

Childhood interactions with animals lead to a lifelong love of nature – nd out about our new education programme and animal encounter experiences.

38 Dream weddings

Discover why our weddings are totally unique and wild – book your event for 2024!

44 How to keep your wedding budget down

Check out some top tips from our new Weddings & Events Manager, Lucy Pembroke.

47 Rare breeds update

We bring you the latest news about these incredible animals in danger of extinction.

'It's been a year from hell!'

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Exclusive membership o ers

27

Treat yourself to a year’s membership and reap the bene ts.

28 Life in focus

TV wildlife and expedition cameraman, Doug Allan, talks exclusively about his amazing adventures.

33 Caught on camera

We look back at some great moments at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park during 2022.

36 ‘Stop this raw deal!’

Jimmy Doherty dives into the murky world of untreated sewage being dumped in Britain’s rivers and seas.

Our friends at Kelly Turkeys speak about the devastating impact of bird u in East Anglia.

57 e mysterious veggie with plenty of bite

Grown in the herb and vegetable garden here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, the Jerusalem artichoke provides myriad health bene ts and a tasty, crunchy treat.

61 What’s cooking?

As the days get colder, we rustle up an awesome Irish Lamb Stew.

62 Winter warmers

Check out our hand-picked selection of seasonal gi s and essentials.

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18 47 EDITORIAL EDITOR AT LARGE Jimmy Doherty EDITOR IN CHIEF Michaela Doherty EDITOR Anna-Marie Casas CONTRIBUTORS Lauren Andrews, Stevie Sheppard ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Lauren Munson PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR Lee Thomas 38 CONTACT Jimmy's Good Life Magazine The DS Group, The Nexus, Systematic Business Park, Old Ipswich Rd, Ardleigh, Colchester, Essex CO7 7QL Advertising Enquiries: 01206 585286 Editorial Enquiries: jimmysfarm@thedsgroup.co.uk Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine is published by DS Media on behalf of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park. The contents of this magazine must not be reproduced without permission. Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine is available at selected Waitrose and John Lewis stores throughout Suffolk & Essex. Jimmy’s Good Life Magazine is also available FREE to all visitors at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Pannington Hall Lane, Ipswich IP9 2AR MARKETING CREATIVE MARKETING MANAGER Dominic Littler SENIOR MARKETING EXECUTIVE Tyler Chase PUBLISHING PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Clara Perry MANAGING DIRECTOR Allistair Hunter A magazine for Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park Free Publication at a year! And the best is yet to come... LEARN WITH FUN NEW SCHOOL WORKSHOPS Exclusive interview with cameraman Doug Allan MY WILD ADVENTURES Come and meet our seven pups CAPYBARA CRAZY Download our brand new app! iOS
Contents

Shop at Jimmy’s Farm

Shopping

The Farm Shop

We have a fantastic range of festive goodies to tempt you. New for this year are award-winning Figgy’s Luxury Christmas Puddings. Each pudding is handmade to a family recipe with Somerset Cider Brandy and Hanlon’s Port Stout, and beautifully packaged in a bespoke illustrated box. To ensure they were suitable, the Jimmy’s Farm team taste-tested them and gave a resounding thumbs-up!

A fine vintage

Our friends at Adnams have created some fabulous drinks over the years. Prosecco Rosé is always a popular twist on a classic. Why not try adding a couple of frozen

raspberries to your glasses before pouring for extra wow factor?

For a more traditional glass, how about the 2011 Vintage Champagne from the Cellar Selection - a rich flavour with a long finish. Create Sloe Royales by adding 50ml of Jimmy’s Farm Sloe Gin to 300ml chilled Champagne. Sprinkle edible glitter for festive sparkle!

Alternatively, their range of English wines are some of the best available. Try English Rosé made from grapes grown here in East Anglia, with a smooth texture and delicate perfume of rose petal, strawberries, and cream - great for hosting or as a thankyou gift.

Please with cheese

If you’re looking for a cheese board to celebrate the best of British and support local producers, head for the chiller counter. Snowdonia Cheese Company’s full range is now available, including the UK’s favourite, Black Bomber, through to some of their less well-known but equally delicious flavours.

Soft cheese Baron Bigod is produced in Suffolk and the UK’s only raw milk, farmhouse brie-style cheese, featuring a rich, full and earthy flavour. Try pairing it with the fruitiness of Caela’s Chutney, or complement the strong Black Bomber with the softer tones of Farmer Jimmy’s Chutney, both made exclusively for Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park.

We all love some figgy pudding
What’s new in The Farm Shop? Commercial Operations Manager, Kirsty Dupée, gives us a whistlestop tour of some festive delights to celebrate this party season in style!
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Home comforts

Sometimes, we all want to reach for something simple to make a quick and easy supper. But simple doesn’t have to mean boring. We have a selection of pastas and sauces that are perfect for creating a warming fireside meal. Stir in sliced classic sausages or chopped smoked bacon for added flavour and texture.

Sweet tooth?

We’re proud to now stock Flower and White meringues, from flavoured meringue clouds to colourful rainbow kisses, which make great showstopping desserts, or a perfect gift to a host. The mini bags of double-dipped pretzels are just what’s needed for satisfying that sudden sweet craving!

Shop at Jimmy’s Farm

“The Farm Shop at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park really does showcase some of the very best produce; locally, nationally and internationally, with all products being carefully considered before coming in. I love to meet and talk to our visitors, and to be able to make recommendations based on personal knowledge of the products, something the whole team can do as well! Whether you’re making a purchase as a gift for a loved one, or just looking to treat yourselves, it’s so important to be able to give that personalised level of service with trust and confidence in what you are selecting.”

Shop at Jimmy’s Farm

Shopping

Red Panda, 45cm

Piggies Sweets & Toys

Stocks a wide range of animal plush toys along with pocket money end-of-day items, with prices from £1.95. www.jimmysfarm.com/piggies (All products shown are Living Nature)

Pig, 20cm

Complete your family day out with our unique boutique experience via our onsite shops and eateries www.jimmysfarm.com

Lop Eared Rabbit, 30cm

Black Highland Cow, 28cm

Golden Retriever, 24cm

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Shop at Jimmy’s Farm Shopping

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www.joules.com

1. Cherington Showerproof Longline Padded Coat, £199

Keep yourself snug and stylish with this Cherington coat that’ll have you looking forward to the colder weather. It has a detachable hood with a removable faux fur trim so you can choose your level of cosiness, and is chevron quilted throughout for a huggable layer of warmth. Unlike other padded coats that add bulk, this one has elasticated cinch details to the underarms that are designed to fit and flatter your body. You’ll also find two zip pockets to the front with soft fleece lining and premium pleather binding for an added touch of style.

2. Chatham Gilet, from £99.95

This gilet is a real statement. The inspiration was all of the long length padded jackets everyone loves. Joules simply made the arms disappear and fell in love. It’s a perfect layer that feels so freeing, thanks to the lack of sleeves and comes with a whole host of features that only add to its appeal. It’s showerproof (which is essential in this country), padded (also useful), and has a hood that detaches and reattaches with a simple zip, so you can change your look instantly. The curved hem is lovely, too.

3. Rosalie Mock Turtle Neck Jumper, £74.95 Joules’ Rosalie jumper will quickly

become a staple in your cold weather wardrobe. From the very first wear, you’ll be sure to love its comfy mock neck and its ability to be styled for day or night. It has deep ribbed detailing to the hem and cuffs, and comes in a colour perfect for the season ahead.

4. Maddie Printed Shirt Dress, £55

This shirt dress is a great transeasonal style that you can wear now right through to summer. Pair it with tights, boots and a chunky knit cardigan for a layeredup look. It has long sleeves, sits just above the knee and has a full button-through fastening. There are gathers to the waist and shoulders and a hand-drawn print that’s simply lovely.

5. Simone Girlfriend Jeans, £59.95

If you think boyfriend jeans are a little too loose-fitting, but you still want that comfortable look, then let us introduce you to these Simone girlfriend jeans! The fit is relaxed through to the calf where it’s then tapered for a slightly fitted shape to the ankles. The perfect jeans for the everyday (hello, school runs), they have the classic five-pocket styling and hems that can be rolled up if you fancy.

6. Printed Wellies with Adjustable Back Gusset, £59.95

From nautical stripes and detailed florals to scenes that sing of our country heritage. Whether you’re heading to a festival or a farmyard, these new printed wellies will make sure you stand out from the crowd.

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Joules’ little gem of a shop is situated at the heart of the farm next to Jimmy’s restaurant
THE PLACE TO BOOK YOUR Ocean & River Cruises SCAN THE QR CODE TO DISCOVER OUR TOP LUXURY CRUISE OFFERS Ask us about our Travel Gift Vouchers LATEST LUXURY MAGAZINE ONLINE NOW! GIVE THE GIFT OF TRAVEL This Christmas TravelQuest 18 Church Street WOODBRIDGE IP12 1DH )01394 388838 Framlingham Travel 29 Market Hill FRAMLINGHAM IP13 9AN )01728 724836 Fred. Olsen Travel Agents 124-126 Hamilton Road FELIXSTOWE IP11 7AB )01394 270456 Fred. Olsen Travel Agents 29 Sir Isaacs Walk COLCHESTER CO1 1ZA )01206 760664 Fred. Olsen Travel Agents 33 Brentgovel Street BURY ST EDMUNDS IP33 1EA )01284 766866 Fred. Olsen Travel Agents Incorporating TravelQuest 27-29 St Nicholas Street IPSWICH IP1 1TW )01473 242676 Fred. Olsen Travel Agents 15a New Market BECCLES NR34 9HD )01502 446008 fredolsentravelagents.co.uk IN EAST ANGLIA Book with our AWARD-WINNING local Travel and Cruise SPECIALISTS We also have branches available in Norfolk Check our website for details of all our branches 0944 for your peace of mind ABTA No. 96925 fredolsentravelagents.co.uk Keep an eye out WE REGULARLY HOST EVENTS & SHOWS! Come along to one of our many events and be inspired for your next getaway... Check our website for details of all our upcoming events

LAYER UP

Shop at Jimmy’s Farm

Shopping

PERFECT POM-POM

Barbour Penshaw Beanie, £27.95 e Penshaw beanie is made of chunky yarn and features a turnable hem, faux fur pom-pom, and an all-over cable knit design.

Barbour Daffodil Quilted Jacket, £229

The Barbour Daffodil Quilted Jacket is the ideal essential for layering during the cooler months, thanks to its long length, diamond quilting on the arms, and baffle construction on the body.

Clarkes Country Stores

Jumper with joy

Schö el Berkeley Quarter Zip Jumper – Navy, £179.95

e Berkeley Quarter Zip is made of high-quality eece and is ideal for layering throughout the year. Suitable for pairing with a shirt or as an additional layer under a coat or gilet.

Penguin poise

Frugi Zane Printed Top, £21

Best foot forward

Made without harmful chemicals from organic cotton to be extremely so , cosy, and gentle on the skin, the Penguin character on the front of the brandnew Zane Printed Top comes in a sketch-style illustration that both older and younger kids will love.

Le Chameau Men’s Vierzonord Boots, £190

The boot of choice for everyday country life is the famous Vierzonord, featuring a neoprene lining that keeps you warm and comfortable throughout the day.

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www.jimmysfarm.com
Stockists of premium lifestyle country clothing, footwear, gi s & accessories
www.clarkesofwalsham.co.uk

Baby Love

From capybara pups to rare Suffolk Punch foals, we can’t get enough of these adorable additions to our ever-growing family. Animal Collection Manager, Sophie Ryder, gives the low-down on all our new arrivals and what to watch out for over winter here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park.

www.jimmysfarm.com News 12
Annabelle Name Barnaby Name Bellatrix Name

Capybara cuties

Everyone’s talking about our ever-expanding capybara family after the birth of five more gorgeous babies in two separate litters born on the same day – all sired by our resident male, Bruno.

Named after the Disney film, Encanto, Bruno has been getting friendly with females, Mirabel – who gave birth to two pups – and Isabel, three, on 8 October. The latest births follow the arrival of two pups in September –taking our capybara community to 10!

The capybara is a semi-aquatic animal from South America and the world’s largest rodent. After a five-month gestation period, a female capybara will typically give birth to four or five pups, although it’s not uncommon for a female to deliver one or two, especially if it is their first ever litter.

Capybara pups are not efficient swimmers at first, so they stay on land hiding in bushy cover, but our latest additions are very nosey and already showing signs of wanting to explore.

“They are incredibly brave and love to say hello to people,” says Animal Collection Manager, Sophie Ryder. “The parents just let them get on with it, but they’re always in earshot of mum – if they get spooked, they will run back straight away.

“They don’t like to go in the water so much when it’s raining or cold, but once the weather warms up again, they’ll be taking a dip whenever they can and showing off their amazing swimming skills like holding their breath underwater for up to five minutes!”

Packing a Punch!

Our rare breed Suffolk Punch horses, Annie and Annabelle, are back at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park with their adorable new foals – colt, Barnaby, and filly, Bellatrix – after both giving birth at The Suffolk Punch Trust in Hollesley back in May. And we are delighted to announce that our majestic pair are expecting again!

“Our new foals are settling in really well,” says Sophie. “Bellatrix is little bit cheeky, and Barnaby loves a fuss! We’ve created a special area so that visitors can get close to them, and we’re holding a series of talks so that everyone can find out more about these truly amazing animals, who are very rare.

“We’re really excited that the mothers are in foal again and they will go to The Suffolk Punch Trust once again to give birth when they’re ready. We can’t wait to hear the patter of more tiny hooves next year!”

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Especially for you

Jason, our male kookaburra, has been joined by a laughing and singing female companion, Kylie, who joins us from Tilgate Nature Centre in Crawley, West Sussex. The largest member of the kingfisher family, laughing kookaburras originate from Australia, and are particularly known for the peculiar sound they make – a mix of cackles, chuckles and hoots!

Awesome Audrey

Our Bactrian camel calf, Audrey, has been growing quickly since her birth on 31 October and, according to Sophie, “she loves a carrot as a special treat!” Her parents, Alice and Arthur, are always close at hand to keep an eye on her – come and meet our ‘A Team’ and find out more about these wonderful animals.

Say cheese

We are preparing to put our rams in with the ewes for breeding, so that we have lambs in time for Spring 2023. Plus, we have welcomed a new Norfolk Horn ram called Cheddar and two new Kerry Hill ewes who will be nice new additions to our flock.

www.jimmysfarm.com News 14
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Strutting his stu

Our male reindeer, Dolph, is in his rut (deer breeding season) and has stripped back his velvet and is showing o to his female, Rowan. “You may nd he is much more vocal and active around the enclosure,” explains Sophie. “Male reindeers strip back their velvet in October and lose the antlers in December, whereas female reindeers will keep the antlers longer to protect themselves and their calves.” So, Santa’s reindeers must all be girls!

Hot to trot

We’re expecting piglets shortly from our Saddleback sow – you’ll be able to see these cuties once they’re born when you take a woodland walk. Our newly created pig enclosure in the woods provides an enriching environment as they have space to roam and forage.

It’s a piggy paradise!

News 16
w:stmargaretsprep.comt:01787273050e:admissions@stmargaretsprep.com GosfieldHallPark,Halstead,EssexCO91SE "Pupilsachieveconsiderablesuccessinarange ofacademicandotherachievements." IndependentSchoolsInspectorate(ISI) OPEN WEEK 16th to 20th JANUARY Places are limited and must be booked in advance Preparing your child for a bright future

Animals

FRIENDS FOR FRIENDS FOR

Life

Research shows that humans’ innate interest in animals is biological; as a social species, we naturally tend to be attentive, caring and nurturing towards other creatures.

And what genetics have made us, experiences build on and develop, especially when they occur at an early age.

Children recognise the intrinsic value of animals – big or small. Whether it’s a pet hamster, cat or dog, a family of friendly ducks in the local lake, a cheeky woodland squirrel, curious farmyard pigs or exotic species in a wildlife park, children instinctively appreciate their

importance in the world and are mesmerised by their presence.

Aside from the calming effect animals can have on children, it is thought that they also help them to build a sense of empathy and respect for all things nature. Valuing animals and appreciating fellow humans appears to go hand in hand.

Wild animals, in particular, are a source of great curiosity, awe and wonder. They build their own homes, have to find food for themselves, have super-powers like flying and swinging from trees, and tend to choose when they want to be seen – making their appearance even more special.

When an animal invites a child into its world, they feel incredibly lucky and privileged, and more connected; as a result, their bond with nature develops.

Here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, with more than 100 species and breeds to see, we know how much children benefit from their interaction with our animals – and our animals love it too!

Whether it’s exploring on a family visit, getting up close and personal during an animal experience, adopting one of our amazing creatures, or taking part in an educational workshop, there are an array of opportunities for children to develop a special relationship with wildlife and nature, as well as their knowledge about the environment, food and farming.

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Food & drink
Childhood interactions with animals are intrinsic to their appreciation and respect for all things living throughout their lives. We take a look at this special bond and how Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park provides countless ways for youngsters to befriend nature.

Animals

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Photo by Wez Jones Photography

Learning with Fun!

Education programme

Our education programme is designed to utilise the unique features of the farm and wildlife park to ‘Excite, Engage, Educate, and Enable’ everyone to ‘share the good life’ and connect with nature around them.

We are passionate about sharing our environment and knowledge, and believe that educating young people and providing good quality visits are vital for the future of farming, the natural environment and the world as a whole.

The programme caters for all ages and abilities, and is open to schools, colleges, and other groups to support learning appropriate to the curriculum. We can support a diversity of topics and study areas, and we may be able to adapt for specific needs.

Workshop visits

Our new educational workshops are linked to the national curriculum –and the focus is on having fun while learning at the same time!

From harnessing meet and greets that introduce children to animal names, to finding out about how to look after animals, to food provenance and waste, farming and conservation, to supporting GCSE Natural History studies, our workshops offer a wide range of topics for children to enhance their knowledge.

Led by experienced and trained staff, each workshop is for 10-30 students, but larger groups can be split into different workshops. Cost £8pp (includes an education backpack and a self-guided visit for time spent outside the workshop).

Day visit

If you would rather join us for a self-guided day, the fun learning doesn’t stop – join one of our public talks which are held throughout the day.

See the ‘Plan Your Day’ board on arrival to see what’s on offer each day. You will have access to our educational resources and activity book. Cost £6pp.

Special educational needs

We have an amazing variety of sights, sounds and smells to stimulate the senses and imagination.

For more information on our education programme or to book an educational activity, visit jimmysfarm.com/education/ or call 01473 604 206.

Animals
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Did you know?

Jimmy Doherty is the Chancellor of Writtle University College in Chelmsford, Essex, one of the oldest providers of specialist education in the UK ofering a range of land-based, environmental, animal, and sport courses.

Earlier this year, The Prince’s Foundation unveiled Food for the Future, a unique food education programme developed with Jimmy Doherty and Jamie Oliver, which aims to champion sustainability and combat food waste.

Adopt an Animal

You can form a special bond with an animal of your choice and play an active part in the important work we do here with an Animal Adoption.

All money raised through our adoptions goes straight back into caring for our animals and supporting future conservation of many different species. For more information and terms and conditions, go to jimmysfarm.com/adopt-animal/

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Animals

Face to Face

Want to get up close and personal with one of our awesome animals? We offer a range of encounters where you can join one of our experienced and knowledgeable rangers in the animal enclosure of your choice.

You will get a chance to feed your chosen animal, provide enrichment and even groom or bathe it where possible.

Most of our experiences last 20-30 minutes, but please note that some experiences aren’t suitable for those in a wheelchair. For more information, visit our website at jimmysfarm. com/animal-experiences/ or email enquiries@jimmysfarm.com if you have any questions.

Captivating Capybaras Experience

Minimum age: 12 years

Cost: £65

Get to know our rapidly growing capybara family, named after characters in the Disney film, Encanto! Feed them, give them a scratch and learn how they’ve adapted to spend a lot of time underwater. And now, you will also get the chance to see seven adorable pups!

Manic Meerkats & Tortoises Experience

Minimum age: 8 years

Cost: £65

Meet our mob of mischievous meerkats in their new home with

their friends, the sulcata tortoises! Led by our notorious escape artist and TV star Steve McQueen, this crazy bunch of South African troublemakers expect you to bring along their favourite snacks!

Reptile Madness Experience

Minimum age: 8 years Cost: £55

Crazy about all things scaly?

Bathe the largest tortoise of Africa, the sulcata tortoise, or face your fears handling some of our brilliant snakes and lizards. The amazing climax to this sensational experience is helping to feed our incredible Morelet’s crocodiles!

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Anteater Antics Experience

Minimum age: 12 years

Cost: £65

Meet one of our strangest residents, who looks like he was put together by committee! But Basil has such a gentle nature and is sure to capture your heart –and show off his impressive 60cm tongue while you feed him his favourite treats!

Tapir Tummy Rubs Experience

Minimum age: 12 years

Cost: £65

Discover South America’s largest land mammal – our gorgeous lowland tapirs, Teddy and Tip Tap, love nothing more than a good chin scratch or belly rub… especially if you’re feeding them treats at the same time!

Farmyard Friends Experience

Minimum age: 8 years

Cost: £55

Help to feed the playful pygmy goats,

Animals

VIP EXPERIENCE

Duration: 1hr

Minimum age: 12 years Cost: £150

Looking for the best way to experience Jimmy’s behind the scenes? Our VIP Experience gives you an hour of exclusive time with a ranger meeting different animals of your choice, feeding them, stroking them and giving you a truly unique day out. Every experience will be different and they will always be awesome!

who love human attention and a good scratch. Meet our rare breed piglets and hear all about the work we do here to support them. The ever-hungry sheep love making friends – and you could even meet Bruce, our beautiful bull!

Small Furries Experience

Minimum age: 4 years Cost: £55

Designed for our younger adventurers, this experience includes the cute and cuddlier animals here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park. Does your little one want a pet – if so, why not come and meet our small furries to help you decide?

Donkey Experience

Minimum age: 8 years Cost: £55

Would you like to help give our donkeys a good groom? Lily, Peggy and Indie love being pampered and spoiled, so join us in making sure they get the TLC they

deserve. Donkeys are highly intelligent and naturally affectionate, even if they might appear a bit shy at first.

Charming Camels Experience

Minimum age: 12 Cost: £55

Fancy an animal experience even if it gives you the hump? Then you must meet our ‘A Team’ Bactrian camels –parents, Alice and Arthur, and their new calf, Audrey! Feed them and learn some of their funny ways!

Lemur Heights Experience

Minimum age: 12 Cost: £65

Meet our group of ring-tail and black and white ruffed lemurs in one of our newest experiences! Hand-feed this inquisitive bunch as they climb on your shoulders. One of our rangers will teach you more about these endangered animals and their habitat in the wild.

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Looking for a gift you can use all year round?

You have goat to be kidding me!

Annual membership is a great way to be able to visit us as often as you like, with no extra charge, while also receiving great discounts off lots of things while you’re here. Including the restaurant and shops onsite!

Free access to the Wildlife Park

10% off at all Jimmy’s Farm food & drink outlets

10% off in the Restaurant

15% off at Joules at Jimmy’s Farm

15% off selected clothing and accessories, 10% off all footwear and trade terms for all building, garden & agricultural materials at Clarkes (including Walsham store)

Not only do you make fab savings at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, your Annual Membership also gets you up to 20% off the admission price of lots of other attractions. The offer is 20% off unless stated otherwise.

Plus up to 20% off entry fees

Not only do you make fab savings at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park, your Annual Membership also gets you up to 20% off the admission price of lots of other attractions.

(The offer is 20% off unless stated otherwise.)

For more information, go to jimmysfarm.com/membership

www.jimmysfarm.com 27

Interview

Life in FOCUS

From polar bears to killer whales, TV wildlife and expedition cameraman Doug Allan chats exclusively about his extraordinary adventures during a career devoted to getting the perfect shot.

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Imagery courtesy of Doug Allan

Interview

Looking back at your early years, what are your memories of being interested in wildlife and did you always dream of being a photographer or cameraman?

I was born and grew up in Dunfermline, Fife. I didn’t have aspirations of being a wildlife cameraperson when I was young. My rst great passion was snorkelling, which I took up when I was still at school. I was lucky enough to go to the Mediterranean in the heady days of the 1960s and package tours, and it was a great place to learn how to snorkel. I also grew up during what was a wonderful decade for exploration. We were going to the moon, but we were also going deeper underwater than we’d ever done before. I was not only interested in diving, but also biology – it was a fascinating time then too for biologists, who were just beginning to explore the idea of the ecosystem.

I went to university in Stirling to do a degree in marine biology. I enjoyed learning about science, but I also knew that I didn’t want to be a ‘proper’ scientist. I was more interested in collecting the information rather than number crunching. When I le university, I turned my back on academia and started looking for opportunities to do diving expeditions. at took me to the Red Sea a couple of times, and I then ran a diving school [in Jersey]. at’s when I really started getting interested in photography.

e big break was getting the chance to go to the Antarctic in 1976 to work for the British Antarctic Survey at Signy Island in the South Orkneys as a research diver. e Antarctic was a photographer’s paradise! In 1981, David Attenborough and a small, three-person lm crew visited our base for a couple of days to lm for his Living Planet series, and it fell to me to look a er him and the others. And I thought, wouldn’t it be great to be one of those cameramen?

I then had an opportunity to be a BAS research station base commander, and I got in touch with a BBC producer to o er some lm footage of emperor penguins. So that’s how the lm work really started.

You’ve been all over the world – which place has proved to be the most challenging and what has impacted you most?

In terms of wildlife, it’s snow leopards for Planet Earth. at involved working in Northwest India in an area called Ladakh – the base camp was 2,500m high and it really is a tough, cold terrain. Plus, the animal itself is quite elusive. I saw a snow leopard for one hour over a total of 11 weeks. And that resulted in 10 seconds of edited lm because that’s all that was worth showing!

I’ve also been on three Everest expeditions, which were very challenging. e Poles are tough, but inspiring –the vast emptiness, the huge horizons... If you’re in the Arctic, you’re sharing an environment with one of the top charismatic animals in the world, polar bears. But the one place that’s probably had the most e ect on me is the Antarctic due to having spent so much time there.

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Which is your favourite animal to capture on camera and what’s been the most difficult to get?

My two favourite animals are probably polar bears and whales. When you’re with polar bears, you can never hide from one, so your chances of being able to observe one close-up is quite a challenge. In the water, that’s almost trickier because you have to get so much closer to your subject to film it. When you can get close to whales underwater by behaving in the right way and gaining their confidence, that’s an amazing feeling.

We are now seeing a golden age of killer whales – we are capturing for the screen behaviours that have never been filmed before. I’ve filmed killer whales – in Blue Planet, we were the first crew to film them attacking grey whale calves in Monterrey, and for Frozen Planet 1, we filmed wave-washing extensively [a highly sophisticated method of hunting used by orcas to dislodge seals off ice floes and into the water]. In Frozen Planet 2, killer whales were filmed attacking bowhead whales in the Antarctic using a different variation of wave-washing. Drones, particularly racing drones that can keep up with them, are opening up a whole new world.

Is there anything left on your bucket list to film?

There’s a small whale in the Arctic called the narwhal – the males have a long, single tusk and are very shy – I’d love to spend some time underwater with them. I’d also like to be in the company of large apes, like gorillas and orangutans.

What are the attributes needed to make a good wildlife cameraperson?

You have to be passionate about getting the image or, if you’re shooting a movie, capturing enough different shots to tell a story. You have to enjoy the challenges that nature throws at you. There’s a difference between patience and tenacity – tenacity is patience with teeth – it’s what gets you up and outside when days are less than ideal. You can’t guarantee the weather or that the animals will be out there. So you just have to be willing to give it your best shot, and be prepared for the fact that you might come back with nothing the first time and try again. You win some and you lose some.

What do you love most about the job?

I like the excitement of it, spending time in the wild, the privilege of seeing animals in an environment that few others have seen, and travelling to the range of locations I’ve seen. A big difference I’ve noticed between now and when I started is simply the number of people going to places that nobody went to before. I feel very lucky that I saw the world when there were fewer people travelling around. Most people know me for my wildlife work, but I’ve also really enjoyed the expedition and science work, and now public speaking, radio and TV work, and writing a book about my adventures.

And the least?

As a freelancer, you’re at the beck and call of nature. It’s wonderful, but it does impact on family life. In a busy year, I could be away for 220 days a year. It wasn’t so much the amount of time you are away, but the irregularity of it.

You must have seen many examples of climate change on your travels over the decades? I’ve seen the change in the seasons, I’ve witnessed how the ice breaks up in the north earlier than it used to, I’ve seen the effects on polar bears, and I’ve spoken to scientists and Inuit communities about how the unpredictability of the weather is affecting them.

I’ve also noticed the changes, commercially – how shipping is preparing to go right across the Arctic Ocean because it is a quicker route between Europe and the east coast of America. You couldn’t do that 10 or 15 years ago because there was too much ice. I wonder about the effects that will have on migratory whales.

Everywhere you look, you can see the extremes of temperature and it’s very concerning. We humans might manage to adapt to live with a temperature increase of 2 to 3 degrees, but the natural world certainly can’t. We hold the health of the planet in our hands, but there are changes happening now that I think are impossible to stop. There is still hope, but it’s getting tougher to hold onto that. It saddens me – when I think how different things could be and should be. For how much longer will the wonders of nature be around to be seen? We have to decide where our priorities lie and push ahead with technologies and changes in our behaviours that can make a difference.

What advice would you give to a child who dreams of doing your job? Follow your passions, enjoy taking

Interview
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Everywhere you look, you can see the extremes of temperature and it’s very concerning... We hold the health of the planet in our hands, but there are changes happening now that I think are impossible to stop.”

your photos, read up on how films are made, and start to make your own. Above all, follow your interests and bolt one experience onto the others. It may be that you decide you want to be a producer, an editor or a presenter rather than the person out there filming. But if you want maximum time with the animals, that’s what’s so great about the cameraperson’s job.

What’s coming up for 2023 that you’re particularly excited about? My son is working in New Zealand – he’s 27 now, and I haven’t seen him for four years. I was all ready to go out in March 2020 when Covid struck. Suddenly, New Zealand was no-go, and he couldn’t leave. So my next planned trip is to visit him and enjoy the country. Sure I’ll take a few photos, but what’ll be best is having a new adventure with him.

Doug’s fascinating book, Freeze Frame – which features exceptional photographs and secrets of life behind the lens – is available to order on www.dougallan.com

Interview 31 www.jimmysfarm.com

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Join us for our Prep and Senior School Open Days. Family tours also available, to find out more please visit stjos.co.uk or email admissions@stjos.co.uk

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CaughtCameraon

We look back on some great moments from 2022

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Caught on Camera

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Television
Image courtesy of Channel 4 Jimmy Doherty dives into the murky world of untreated sewage being dumped in Britain’s rivers and seas.

In Dispatches: Britain’s Water Scandal, which aired on Channel 4 recently, Jimmy investigated why companies have been allowed to get away with flushing untreated sewage into waterways for so long, and probed who really is to blame for the state of our filthy waters.

Jimmy made some shocking discoveries while searching for a safe place to swim: companies breaking the law, a sewerage system that’s too small to cope, and sewage monitors at popular seaside destinations not working or not installed.

The Environment Agency says 70 per cent of England’s beaches have an ‘excellent’ water quality rating, but 1,500 pipes dump raw sewage into the sea.

One startling discovery was made at an ‘excellent’ beach on the Isle of Wight where faecal pollution was 40 times higher than usual.

“This is really disturbing –in fact, it’s unbelievable,” Jimmy told viewers. “Sewage dumping is supposed to be tightly regulated, but it’s clear that some water companies are totally ignoring the rules.

“Fixing our Victorian sewage system is going to take an awful lot of money and with the economic crisis looming, I can’t see that happening any time soon. But until it does, going for a swim is going to feel like a real gamble!”

IN NUMBERS

1000

The 12 companies responsible for treating raw sewage dumped it more than 1,000 times a day on average last year

2.7m

Untreated sewage was dumped for more than 2.7m hours last year

1500

The number of pipes around the country dumping raw sewage into the sea 3000

238 beaches are rated by the Environment Agency as having ‘excellent’ water quality, but over half have had spills of untreated sewage –3,000 in total last year

4

The majority – 4 out of 5 – of large sewage treatment works that dumped untreated sewage last year did so because they were too small to cope

7m

The Environment Agency’s annual enforcement budget fell from £11.6m in 2010 to £7m in 2021

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Television

Weddings

It can be a challenge finding a wedding venue that ticks all the boxes, but at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park we pull out all the stops to make each couple’s day totally unique.

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I was obsessed with animals and Ryan loves tepees, so Jimmy’s fitted perfectly!”
Image by Ania Oska (courtesy of Beth Aldous)

Weddings

Wedding & Events Manager Lucy Pembroke caught up with one of her rst wedding couples, Charley and Ryan Bird, who married on 28 July 2022, ve years exactly a er their rst date.

So, Charley and Ryan, how did you both meet? “We actually met on Tinder in July 2017,” Charley re ects, as both couples laugh. It was Charley’s rst date and Ryan’s second. ey had apparently been matched before, but Charley swiped le !

Charley is from Essex and Ryan from Hertfordshire, so they arranged to meet for their rst date in London at Liverpool Street Station. It was a quite an eventful date as Ryan wanted to take Charley to a bar he had been to before. Unfortunately, he had forgotten its actual location, and it took him 45 minutes in the pouring rain to nd it – but they eventually did.

e date must have been a success, as when Charley returned home that evening she said to her mum, “ at is the man I am going to marry!”

Tell us about the proposal...

Charley moved to Hertfordshire to live with Ryan in 2019, and they had both discussed getting married. In October 2020, they were on holiday in Devon, staying in a log cabin. “I was planning to propose on a cli op the following day,” recalls Ryan, “but the weather forecast was terrible, so I decided to bring it forward.” at evening, they both sat outside their log cabin, in front of the repit under the stars, and Ryan got down on one knee. “I was so nervous; I dropped the ring in the grass and had to use a torch to nd it.” She still said, yes!

Charley, how did you go about choosing your wedding dress?

“I had a de nite idea of what I wanted and ended up with something completely di erent,” Charley says. “I found the dress shop on Instagram and their dresses looked amazing. I only took my mum and Ryan’s mum. ey had every dress you could imagine; there was no point in shopping around.”

When asked what advice she would give to a bride choosing her dress: “Be open-minded. Try on as many di erent styles as possible. I wanted something tted, but it really didn’t suit me.”

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Weddings

Why did you choose Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park as your wedding venue?

Ryan says, “We looked at a few other places, but they were too formal for the type of wedding we wanted.” Charley adds, “I was obsessed with animals and Ryan loves tepees, so Jimmy’s fitted perfectly. I had originally wanted to get married outside, but I compromised on the tepee.”

Tell me about your wedding day? They both laugh... “We don’t remember a lot of it, it was such a whirlwind!” says Charley. “The best part was definitely the park visit though. I would recommend wearing flat shoes or trainers.” Charley wore a second more informal dress and white trainers for their park visit.

What did your guests think of your choice of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park as a venue?

“Neither of us – or our friends –can fault the staff, everyone was so accommodating,” Charley says. “Even when I asked for a gluten-free option whilst I was getting ready, the staff did not hesitate to help.” Charley continues, “I had also mentioned in a previous meeting that I love tea, and when I sat

at down for the Wedding Breakfast, there was a pot of tea waiting for me.”

“There was so much food, and it was so delicious – everyone commented on that,” Ryan says. “Some people even commented it was the best wedding they had ever been to. They all loved the bouncy pillow. With the help of Lucy, the wedding ran absolutely to time, which was key.”

Finally, what advice would you give to a couple planning their wedding? “The day went so quickly,” Charley says. “In hindsight, we both wish we had booked a videographer. Luckily, the photographer was amazing. Our advice would be not to worry about

which pictures to take, but focus on the style of photographs you want and search for the right person that way. They will be able to guide you through the day.” Charley adds, “And don’t scrimp on the cost of a photographer – it will be worth every penny –photographs are forever!”

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“There was so much food, and it was so delicious.”

Weddings

to get married in the world.

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Weddings

Totally Wild, Totally Unique

At Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, we always aim to make a couple’s day a ‘completely unforgettable adventure’ from start to finish. Our weddings are as unique as our couples, offering that ‘something special’ which we guarantee you can’t find anywhere else. A wedding is all about our couples sharing their perfect day with close friends and family, creating together happy memories that will last a lifetime.

Every couple who books their special day with us receives the personal attention of our Wedding & Events Manager, who will make every effort to tailor the couple’s day to meet all of their expectations, perhaps even suggesting small touches which the couple may not have thought of. Therefore, ensuring every couple has complete confidence in Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park delivering their perfect day.

To find out more, go to jimmysfarm.com or email weddingsandevents@jimmysfarm.com for a tour.

Suppliers

Photography: Ania Oska

Bride’s dress & accessories: Dress (Martina Liana), veil, and hair accessories (The Bobby Pin) from House of Snow, Bury St Edmunds; shoes, Jimmy Choo; evening dress, ASOS Bridal; trainers, ARNE

Groom’s suit: Moss Bros Bridesmaids’ dresses: House of Fraser, JJ’s House and PLT

Groomsmen’s suits: Moss Bros Flowers: Ellie Michaelides, Grazefully Events Cake: Vicki Weymouth, Cake their Day Entertainment: Pianist, Zoe Alexandria; DJ, Gem Horoz Table plan & stationery: Abbie Imagine; Etsy Hair and make-up: Zoe Deamer Hair; Eloise Howitt www.jimmysfarm.com

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“It was such a whirlwind... The best part was definitely the park visit though.”
43 Weddings www.jimmysfarm.com

Weddings

Our Weddings

Go Digital

Creating a website rather than sending invitations is a great way to keep your guests up to date with your arrangements. You can find online tools offering free webpage templates which don’t take long to set up. For the older generation, you could always print off the details and send via post.

Create Your Own Playlist

We all know a DJ is cheaper than a band, but what about creating your own playlist? You may well already have your perfect playlist on your phone! You could also purchase low-cost disco lights which change colour to the rhythm or beat of the music to help create that party atmosphere.

Seasonal Flowers

You will be surprised how much you can save, just by choosing seasonal blooms. Decide on a colour theme first, then speak to your florist or look online for the best seasonal flowers. Alternatively, there are some great faux-flower alternatives available in most discounted stores.

Try the Personal Touch

Your guests will really appreciate handmade table centres. An easy and simple idea is to collect different sized jars, and wrap ribbon or raffia around the rims. Add some tea lights to match your theme, some seasonal plants from the garden centre, and you have a unique look for very little cost.

Dress Hire

Grooms hire their suits, so why not the bride? Hiring your dress not only gives you access to some budget-busting designer gowns, it also means that it won’t be hanging in your wardrobe for years to come. And as a bonus, dry cleaning is usually included.

Low vs High Season

You can save a substantial amount on the venue hire if you move your wedding to low season, which is sometimes only a few weeks before or

after your preferred date. Generally, low season is October to March, excluding December, and could save you thousands.

Wedding Favours

Whilst it is lovely to give your guests a gift, it can become very expensive, so don’t feel it is a necessity. A simple touch like a pouch containing seeds which match your bouquet is a much cheaper option, and still adds that memorable personal touch.

Tiers of Cake

Do you really need three tiers?

If you cater for the actual number of guests, you won’t have left-over wedding cake in your fridge for weeks! Alternatively, get your friends together and make different flavoured cupcakes – adding sprinkles hides a multitude of sins.

Final Word

If you are struggling making payments to your venue, don’t ignore the problem. Contact your venue immediately – you may be surprised at how understanding they will be. If you contact them early enough, they should be able to help you to reduce the cost, and may even offer a payment plan.

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How to have the perfect wedding day and keep the budget down!
& Events Manager, Lucy Pembroke, shares her top money saving tips when planning your big day.
With costs a challenge and weddings planned so far in advance, here are a few tips which will help you deliver your perfect day, saving a few pennies without having to scrimp on the quality...
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Conservation

RareUpdateBreeds

We have some awesome rare breeds staying here with us at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park.

“As a very proud member of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), our important work in this area spans many varieties of pigs, goats, horses, cattle and birds, says Animal Collection Manager Tom Chapman (pictured).

We take a look at some of the latest news about these incredible animals in danger of extinction...

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One of our Golden Guernsey goats, which is a rare breed listed as 'at risk'

RBST PRIORITY WATCHLIST

Main image, the Large White pig; insets, Middle White piglets at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, and one of our rare Su olk Punches

RBST is the national charity working across the UK to save and safeguard the future of rare and native livestock and equine breeds.

Its latest watchlist adds the Large White pig, also known as the Yorkshire pig, to RBST’s highest priority category a er the breed su ered a further signi cant decline in numbers in 2021.

In the 1950s, the Large White enjoyed enormous popularity, but its numbers have declined dramatically due to cross breeding. Its e ective population size (indicating genetic diversity by accounting for the total number of animals and the relative numbers of sires and dams) has fallen from more than 900 in 2000, to just 125 today.

RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price said that numbers of many rare native breeds were holding up well thanks to e orts to protect them.

“However, some of our native breeds are in pretty dire straits right now,” he continued. “ e pig industry has had an awful year and the situation for native pigs is very concerning – with the decline in Large Whites, seven of our 11 native pig breeds are now priority breeds.”

ere has also been a signi cant decline in births of one of the UK’s oldest sheep breeds, the Norfolk Horn, which used to play a major part in the history and economy of East Anglia.

“If we lose these breeds, we lose not only an irreplaceable piece of our heritage, but also their unique genetic value and their crucial contributions to a future for farming where food production and the environment go hand in hand.”

Visit rbst.org.uk to nd out more about keeping rare breeds and to donate to the charity’s conservation programmes.

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Conservation

Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park: Rare Breeds (ranking on RBST’s watchlist 2022-23) Priority Large Black Pig Middle White Pig Embden Goose Suffolk Punch Horse At Risk British Saddleback Pig Oxford Sandy & Black Pig Gloucestershire Old Spot Pig Golden Guernsey Goat Bagot Goat British White Cattle Devon Closewool Sheep Norfolk Horn Sheep

UK Native Breeds Highland Cattle Riggit Galloway Cattle Buff Orpington Chicken

Main image, the Bu Orpington; top inset, the 'priority' Large Black pig, bottom inset, the beautiful Highland

IN NUMBERS

The Bagot goat is one of the rarest animals living at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park with only an estimated 250 breeding females left

The Highland is the no.1 oldest registered breed of cattle - the first herdbook was established in 1884

The number of Suffolk Punch horses left in the UK - they’re rarer than the giant panda!

We look after six types of rare breed pig here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, including the RBST ‘piority’ Large Black and Middle White

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Conservation
250
1
300
6

PICTURE BOOKS FOR ALL EXHIBITION AND CURATOR TOURS

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CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

Thurs 15 December. 7pm - 10pm. Join us to create custom printed wrapping paper and make your own Christmas wreath. £5/person. Advance booking required. 18+.

CHRISTMAS MARKET

Sat 3 December. 10am - 4pm. Stock up on goodies from local independent retailers at our first festive market. We are also delighted to host Suffolk Recycles Preloved Market, supported by local charity shops.

LOW SENSORY CHRISTMAS

Sun 4 December. 10am - 4pm. Visit Father Christmas with a BSL Interpreter in a low sensory environment for neurodivergent children and their families. Free entry. Advance booking required.

@suffolkarchives l www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/whatson
October 2022 – 8 January 2023. Come along and visit our free exhibition, Picture Books For All. Founded in 1818, W.S. Cowell were general printers that re-invented themselves as progressive art printers during the late 1930s and 1940s. They worked with leading illustrators and artists including Kathleen Hale, Eric Ravilious, Edward Ardizzone and Pablo Picasso. The exhibition charts the international importance of W.S. Cowell through a visually rich selection of books, prints, original artwork and journals. Free admission to exhibition. Curator tour ticket: £5/£4 concessions. Booking required.
and
4pm. Pit your wits against our festive puzzles and seasonal riddles. Family friendly rooms available. Various
£10 per person
8+.
A free screening of this Christmas
Tickets available for advance booking or on the door. Snack boxes available at time of booking.
Sat 3
Sun 4 December. 10am -
times.
Groups of 2 - 6 people.
CHRISTMAS ESCAPE ROOMS Sun 11 December. 1.30pm – 3pm.
classic.
CINEMA CLUB: ELF (FILM RATING: PG)
Picture Books For All Images used courtesy of W.S. Cowell JOIN US AT THE HOLD FOR FESTIVE FAMILY FUN IN DECEMBER!
Why not purchase one of our fantastic animal experiences and find out what it’s really like to be a zookeeper. Zookeeper Experiences Mini zookeeper experience l Junior zookeeper experience Shadow a zookeeper Animal Experiences Meet the meerkats l Feed the lemurs Tickle a tapir l Wolf encounter or Feed a big cat! Feed a big cat Feed the lemurs Meet the meerkats Discount onabove experiences when booking WITH CODE ANIMAL22 AT WWW.PWPARK.COM 25% Terms & Conditions: This 25% discount excludes Meet the red pandas, Sloth experience, Meet the penguins. Offer ends 1st April 2023. 25% discount 25% discount 25% discount

It’s been a year from hell – and it could get even worse!’

We catch up with our friend, Paul Kelly, owner of Kelly Turkeys, to hear about the devastating impact of bird flu – which has killed more than 300,000 turkeys across East Anglia.

Tell us about your relationship with Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park?

I met Jimmy at the BBC Good Food Show 2004, and I invested in the Jimmy’s Farm business in 2011. I sit in on board meetings to bring what business experience I have to Jimmy’s Farm. We also produce turkeys on Jimmy’s Farm under the Jimmy brand for sale into the Christmas market.

It’s been a tough year for turkey farmers dealing with avian u – how bad is the situation in East Anglia?

In my 40 years of business, this has been the worst year we’ve ever known.

In East Anglia, there have been over 300,000 turkeys lost so far, and whilst I would like to say that things can’t get any worse, they really could. I know of three Christmas turkey and goose farmers who are now out of

business because of bird u. rough the NFU and British Poultry Council, we are lobbying hard to allow us to vaccinate our birds and create a fairer compensation scheme to help with this crisis. We ourselves have lost some turkeys, however, all of our KellyBronze ocks are ok, as indeed are Jimmy’s.

What will be the consequences for customers this festive season? ere are no geese available now – the goose population has been wiped out and I have no doubt that there will be a shortage of free range turkeys too.

How does it compare with the challenges faced during the pandemic?

e pandemic lockdowns were a walk in the park compared to this year. In January, we hoped that things would be back to normal; how wrong we

were. e Ukrainian war caused wheat to just about double in price. e price of soya went through the roof, along with our packaging and supplies. is, combined with the hangover we’ve had from Brexit and the shortage of labour, has created the perfect storm.

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Farming

Farming

On a brighter note, have there been any good news stories to report at Kelly Turkeys?

No, is the sad answer. It’s been a year from hell.

e KellyBronze is a premium brand with a rich heritage and a renowned reputation – what makes celebrities choose your turkeys above all others?

We have been producing Kelly Bronze now for 38 years, over which time we have honed what we believe to be the perfect turkey. Whilst most food producers are eternally looking for ways to save money and reduce cost, we are continually searching for techniques to make our turkey better, which in most cases means adding cost. We do believe that if we can nd something that genuinely adds value, our customers are willing to pay more because it is assuredly better. e reason that celebrities and our customers buy from us is because it is a wonderful and delicious turkey.

What makes turkey such a great meat and does the future bode well for its place in the market?

Turkey is great because you get both white and dark meat. Whatever you can do with beef, pork, lamb or chicken, you can do with turkey. It is a very versatile meat. It is higher in protein and lower in fat than chicken, and the fact that turkey mince is in continual growth is testament to how great it tastes. e challenge is that turkey is not as cheap as chicken and, if it was, I’m sure it would have a greater market share. e future of premium turkeys at Christmas I think is very safe.

What’s coming up in 2023 that you’re excited about? ere is a cloud hanging over the poultry industry because

of Avian In uenza and we need to get a vaccination in place. If AI can be sorted, then we look forward to growing our business and making many more people happy on Christmas Day with a turkey that is easy to cook, wonderful to eat and makes their family go ‘wow’! kellybronze.co.uk

Did you know?

In the UK, approximately 3.5 million captive birds have been culled since October 2021 due to the spread of avian flu, while the virus has devastated wild populations.

A national bird flu ‘prevention zone’ has been declared across the UK amid the biggest outbreak on record.

The H5N1 virus was first detected in southern China in 1996 and has spread globally via infected wild birds.

54 www.jimmysfarm.com
Ipswich
Club Limited, Purdis Heath, Bucklesham Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 8UQ office@ipswichgolfclub.com www.ipswichgolfclub.com @PurdisHeathGolf 18 Holes of Golf Including Breakfast or Chef’s Special for £75 Available from: 31st October 2022to 24th March 2023 (Excludingweekends and 24th December 2022to 2nd January 2023) Please call 01473 728941 to book. WINTER SPECIAL IPSWICH GOLFCLUB Found d 1895 PURDIS HEATH
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The mysterious veggie with plenty of bite!

Grown in the herb and vegetable garden here at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, the Jerusalem artichoke provides myriad health benefits and a tasty, crunchy treat.

The Jerusalem artichoke is a veggie with a bit of a misnomer. Despite its name, it has no relation to one of the holiest cities in the world – one theory is that it is a corruption over the years of the Italian word for sunflower, ‘girasole’.

That’s because it’s not really an artichoke either, but a variety of sunflower with an edible tuber, similar to a potato.

Originally from North America, where it is usually called a sunchoke, it resembles a ginger root with a nutty, sweet and crunchy taste.

Rich in nutrients

The Jerusalem artichoke provides an array of vitamins and minerals as well as fibre and protein. If you add it to your diet, you’ll get a decent hit of vitamin C, a variety

of B vitamins and calcium, along with iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.

Sweet health boost

It also boasts an abundance of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), the prebiotic plant sugars occurring in many fruits and vegetables that give them a natural sweetness.

“FOS is particularly helpful for improving immunity, absorption of calcium and improving blood sugar balance,” explains registered nutritionist Samantha Bloom (bloom-nutrition.co.uk).

“The active ingredients, cynaropicrin and cynarin, have been proven to help reduce cholesterol. They are also stabilising for the metabolism due to valuable oils and are good for the liver.”

The Jerusalem artichoke provides a much-needed boost at a time of year when immunity tends to take a dip, observes registered nutritional therapist Vicky Godfrey, co-founder of DNApal (dnapal.me)

“It can stimulate growth of bifidobacteria – this is one of the ‘good guys’ that fights harmful bacteria, and is a bacteria in the gut you really want to nurture in order to support immune health...especially important in the winter months.”

Food 57

Potassium powerhouse

The Jerusalem artichoke is a great source of dietary fibre and potassium, with the latter vital for the circulatory system to keep heart muscles healthy and for the alkaline balance in blood.

“It works as a natural healing mineral especially for heart muscles and regulates water balance in the body, assisting with the elimination of blood impurities via the kidneys,” says Samantha.

Tasty and versatile Aside from its many health benefits, the Jerusalem artichoke is full of flavour and can be

cooked in a variety of ways – or even eaten raw!

“They are delicious simply roasted in olive oil with salt,” says Samantha. “Or creamed as a soup with fennel and topped with oven-baked root chips. Or simply tray-baked with other root veggies such as sweet potato and beets, and then sprinkled with sesame seeds or a similar source of good fat to help digest.”

While Jerusalem artichokes need to be washed carefully or peeled, it’s well worth the effort as they are cheap and offer something a bit different. “They are more complex

than the simple sugariness of carrots, and more elegant than celeriac or parsnip – you really should try them!” extols Vicky, who recommends steaming over boiling to avoid water-logging.

“One of my favourite ways to prepare them is by adding a bay leaf, some crushed garlic, and a slice of lemon to the steaming water to infuse this already tasty root vegetable with even more flavour.”

Or if you’re a fan of fish, try haddock pie with Jerusalem gratin (swapping out the potato topping) – it’s yummy!

Food 58
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Irresistible Irish Lamb Stew

Ingredients

• 3 middle necks of lamb (about 1.8kg/4lb), filleted and boned –you need to end up with about 950g/2lb 2oz pure meat

• 650g floury potatoes, such as King Edward

• 650g waxy potato, such as Desirée or Pentland Javelin

• 1kg carrots

• 2 onions

• ½ tsp fresh thyme leaves

• chopped fresh chives and parsley, to garnish

For the stock

• bones from the lamb

• 1 large carrot, quartered

• 1 onion, quartered

• ½ celery stick, quartered

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 large sprigs of thyme

• a generous sprig of parsley • 6 black peppercorns, lightly crushed

Method

Make the stock. Put the lamb bones in a large, heavy-based saucepan with the carrot, onion, celery, herbs, peppercorns and 1 tsp salt. Pour in 3 litres/5¼ pints of water. Bring to the boil and simmer uncovered for 2 hours.

Strain the stock through a fine sieve to remove bones and vegetables, then return to the pan. Boil until reduced to about 1.3 litres/2¼ pints. (You can make the stock the day before – keep it in a covered container in the fridge, or freeze it for up to 3 months.)

Make the stew. Cut the lamb into large chunks. Peel the potatoes (keeping both types separate) and cut into pieces of similar size to the meat. Put the two different types in separate bowls of water to keep them white. Peel the carrots and cut into slightly smaller pieces. Slice the onions into thick rings.

Put the lamb in a large, clean saucepan. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, skimming off all the impurities from the surface. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add the floury potatoes, carrots and onions. Season generously and simmer for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Food 61 www.jimmysfarm.com

Taking inspiration from the British countryside, Joules’ Autumn/Winter 2022 optical collection showcases an array of upbeat, fun and quality-led eyewear styles to brighten up your wardrobe this season and beyond. Hand-designed prints and bold, bright colours are at the heart of its new women’s eyewear collection (petite sizes available). Stocked at leading UK opticians.

Winter Warmers

Give a loved one a gi or spoil yourself with our hand-picked selection of items.

EYE, EYE

Sock aye the noo

I SHOULD COCOA

Chocolate Wonder makes 70% dark and 39% milk chocolate bars and other products from Madagascan cocoa beans and local sugar with no preservatives or other additives. The ‘Wonder’ box has 12 of the highest quality, delicious chocolates and truffles for £12 (deluxe Christmas edition box, £15). Discover more about its homemade chocolate and other products. chocolate-wonder.co.uk

Burlington King socks are made from sustainable yarns and available in colours inspired by the latest seasonal trends. The classic Argyle pattern has been reimagined into a striking design. A traditional pattern deeply rooted in British history and associated with Scottish clans, it now offers an on-trend product to suit every mood and occasion, all year-round. £13. burlington.de

Love your home

SEASONAL STYLE

Autumnal vibes with this fabulous silk/satin bias cut skirt (£42) and cozy knit jumper (£42) teamed up with coordinating leather tote bag (£52) and scarf (£15) all available at Ruby Tyger, Framlingham. facebook.com/RubyTyger/

On the grapevine

Tu on Hall is a modern, boutique vineyard in the heart of East Anglia producing elegant, award-winning wines that make a perfect gi . e family have been working this land for 100 years, while Castle Hedingham’s wine-growing traditions date back to Norman times. Heritage and provenance, coupled with a forward-thinking approach to cra smanship. tu onhall.co.uk

62 Shop online
Barretts of Woodbridge is an independent store specialising in inspiring and beautiful home furnishings. For over 50 years, it’s been helping people to ‘love their home’. If you’ve just moved or fancy a refresh, a trip is a must. And with their ‘Peace of Mind Guarantee’, the whole experience will be a pleasure. Shown here, the Sophie Allport Robin mug, £14.50/Scion Marty Moose duvet set, from £50. barretts.co.uk
www.jimmysfarm.com

WOOLVERSTONE HALL NURSERY A RURAL ADVENTURE AWAITS at Ipswich High School

A Rural Adventure Awaits

Welcoming children aged 3 to 4 years old

Woolverstone Hall Nursery is located in the beautiful 87 acre grounds of Woolverstone Hall and offers the ideal setting for your son or daughter to start their educational journey.

Based at Ipswich High School, our welcoming school environment is friendly, nurturing and makes children feel happy, safe, and keen to learn. Our nursery and play gardens provide opportunities for every child to grow and develop, while our incredible countryside allows us to incorporate both Forest and Beach School into our curriculum. Our beautiful outdoor spaces are a fundamental part of our nursery offer. Pupils develop physical, imaginative, and social skills in the natural setting and learn from the world around them.

For more information on Woolverstone Hall Nursery and to book your private tour, please contact our Registrar.

01473 201058 | admissions@ipswichhighschool.co.uk www.ipswichhighschool.co.uk/nursery

Shop nearby

Shopping

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Hatfields is just 21 miles away from Jimmy’s Farm…

Monday to Saturday, 9.30am – 5pm Sundays, 10.30am – 4.30pm Bank Holidays, 10am – 5pm

Hatfields Furniture & Interiors, Peartree Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex CO3 0LA

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Established in 1886, Hat elds remains a family owned local retailer, providing quality furniture, ooring and home accessories
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