Toft's Open Farm Craft Day - Roll On Summer!

 
Today at Toft we finally got some sunshine after a week of high winds and heavy rain. It got us all excited for summer's arrival, and doubly keen for the 4th of August to swing round - because we're having a party!





Between 10am and 4pm Toft Alpaca farm will open its doors for a summer open day where visitors can meet our beautiful alpacas, tour the farm and enjoy taster sessions in an incredible variety of crafts. 






You can try your hand at knitting, felt-making and crochet under the supervision of our expert tutors, and talk the hind leg off an alpaca about all things crafty. The best part is it's completely FREE. We'll even be laying on one of our scrumptious cream teas.



Activities will be suitable for all ages and all levels of experience - we're all about passing skills between people of every background and every generation.








You'll get a chance to find out exactly what goes on here and meet the entire team (including some of our hairier members).



Make sure you save the date in your diary: August 4th. Come and soak up the sunshine - even as I write this, the ladies from today's crochet workshop are standing on Toft Manor's terrace with bulging bags of newly purchased yarn, looking out over our rolling fields at Draycote Water shining in the distance. I can't think of a better way to spend a day - hurry up August!  

The farm is a glorious place to visit on a week like this! Book your trip now.

Hasn't the weather this week been glorious? No complaints here despite having to swap all our chunky knitwear for the finer variety and our socks for sandals.

And this fine weather has certainly caught the alpacas at their best. Almost in full fleece with just six more weeks left until shearing they are looking like big cuddly ewoks.

It's a great time to come up to the farm to meet the herd and see the alpacas in all their glory. You can come up to the farm for a visit anytime Monday-Friday 10am-4pm or in addition we will now be opening Saturdays from May onwards (NEWS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY).

A fab alternative to this is to join us on one of our craft workshops in knitting, crochet or felting. Spend a relaxing day here at Toft alpacas (Dunchurch, Warwickshire) getting to know all about alpacas and learning new skills. Each day includes a farm tour to get up close to our herd of over 150 alpacas.

Coming up pre-shearing we have an Intro to Felt Workshop on 14th April with a few spaces left. Book online here or give us a call on 01788 810626. The whole day course is just £5o per person and that includes all of your materials and and wonderful lunch. You will learn all the basics of wet felting, needle felting and knitted felt, and you will of course be working with luxorious alpaca fleece.

Come the week of May 15th the Shearer will be here and our herd will be transformed into skinny minnies! You can come and join us at Toft for this exciting event by booking on our workshop on 17th May. You will again spend a day on farm but this time see and learn about shearing alpacas and sorting fibre. You will then spend the afternoon making felted jewellery. This workshop is very limited with only a couple of spaces left so act now and book here.

If you are more animal mad than crazy about textiles then one of our Alpaca Fun Days could be for you. Spend a day on the farm halter training your own alpaca for the day. Great for all the family these summer days involve meeting all cria (baby alpacas- 50 due again this year!), a trek across the farm with your alpaca, followed by a picnic in the fields and then an obstacle course to finish! A great day out for all animal lovers. Book here.

So there's no excuse not to make a day of coming out to visit us. With an ever-expanding prgramme of events on farm, and the upcoming opening of 'Toft Studio' we will be hosting all manner of walks, talks and workshops.

Get booked in now as spaces are limited to small groups on all of our dates. Alternately if you have your own group and you'd like your own private tour then just get in touch to arrange a trip to us. All groups from 6-50 people are welcome with prior arrangement and cream-teas and craft classes are offered in addition to farm walks and talks.

Whether you are a WI, Knitting Group, School Party or simply a group looking to meet up and do an unusual and exciting activity for the day. Get in touch now to get us in your calendar.


With thanks to Emi for her photography and gorgeous alpaca treats from Japan.