3 days Ago
Nestled in the heart of the rolling Wilderswood Hills, the Poppywood Alpaca Centre is the epitome of tranquillity. Sitting in the site café, adorned with twinkling fairy lights, owner Pippa Berry excitedly talks me through the site’s upcoming Christmas menu. It’s hard to believe that Pippa, who co-runs the walking centre with her partner Mike, has only recently broken free from a year-long planning permission battle for the space, despite, she claims, being told that planning permission was not necessary.
The application was unanimously approved by the council on Thursday, November 7. “We didn’t set out to become a business” said Pippa. “I had a riding accident a couple of years ago, I wasn’t able to ride anymore so we bought alpacas.
"They were therapeutic, they helped with my recovery and my PTSD because they are so gentle. (Image: Leah Collins) “People asked to see them and it continued to spiral from there. "But we don’t want to commercialise, we want to keep it as personal and community focused as possible, the site has that personal touch.
"The café is just secondary really, it’s only available to those joining for the group sessions, it’s all about the alpacas. We love them to bits.” The site, which was previously run as a horse-breeding business , currently boasts 51 alpacas, each proving to be a hit with the day’s visitors, who predominantly consisted of families and young children.
(Image: Leah Collins) In our group of 11, one fellow visitor tells me that they travelled four hours from Blacknall especially to join the day session, which consists of a 15-minute walk with an alpaca around the site (I was paired with a black-and-white alpaca appropriately named Oreo) and two 20-minute petting sessions with the animals, which include hand feeding. Another visitor, Mary Wiggans, who has joined the meet and greet with her husband Paul and their three children, highlights the sessions as a fantastic and unique outdoor activity for bringing families together. (Image: Leah Collins) Mary, who works as a nurse , said: “I came here with my colleagues last Wednesday (November 13) for the first time.
"It’s stressful this time of year at work being a nurse and we all found it therapeutic. “I wanted to bring my family back too, it’s been a great asset to the community and gets children outside and walking, which isn’t always easy.” Aside from the on-site group sessions, Poppywood Alpacas visits some of the most vulnerable people in the community, including those with disabilities, elderly residents and those with suffering with their mental health .
While one of the main concerns in the planning application was increased traffic coming up Farm Lane, this was not something I struggled with. In fact, there was only three vehicles on site at the time of the visit, including my own. READ MORE > Astley Bridge: Woman cut out of car which crashed into restaurant READ MORE > Why 2 Walkden Medical Centre staff members have shaved their heads READ MORE > Bolton swim academy wins gold at National Swimming Awards The centre also works with numerous community groups and charities including down's syndrome support group Bolton Smiley Faces, The Sapphire Partnership supporting young people with neuro-diverse needs and disabilities, the council’s fostering service and care in the community groups like Future Directions in Manchester among others.
(Image: Leah Collins) “It’s something that brings people together,” said Pippa. “The social aspect of it, that’s what makes the site special. "Even if it’s just someone feeling a bit low, time with the alpacas can alleviate that.
“Last week, a family of four and a couple visited the session. They got along so well, they ended up having lunch together. "It was sweet to see and that’s the sort of community we want to promote.
“We are ready to be back and better than ever for the festive season. (Image: Leah Collins) “We’re launching our Christmas menu – including a roasted red pepper & tomato soup with cheese scone, roasted parsnip & parmesan soup, turkey & stuffing melt with a cranberry dip, brie and cranberry toasties, mini pigs in blankets and mini roast spuds with mustard mayo or garlic mayo dip, cheesy beans topped crumpets, warm mince pies with clotted cream and of course, our usual home-made cakes and traybakes.” As part of the festive season, the site will also be offering alpaca-themed crafting sessions for children, such as making a “Rudolph’s red nose pompom” from alpaca wool.
Pippa said: “You don’t get this interaction at the zoo. There’s just something about them that really resonates with people. (Image: Leah Collins) “It was like winning the lottery, receiving the planning permission, we were all so emotional.
It was really reassuring to see the council backing us and acknowledging what we bring to the wider community.” Although I haven’t walked an alpaca before, it was easy to see why the site is proving so popular for Bolton residents and beyond. It’s clear- when it comes to spreading joy, alpacas are leading the way, one step at a time.
Got a story? Email me at [email protected].
uk.
