It will be closing its doors for the final time this month

A farm park near Cambridgeshire has announced it will close permanently after a decade. Visitors have said the closure will mark “the end of an era”.

Julie and Clive Bell, who run Rutland Farm Park in Oakham, will retire this month. They will be permanently closing the visitor attraction for the final time on Sunday, April 12, at 5pm.

Rutland Farm Park is an 19-acre, family-friendly, working farm park that opened all year round. The park showcases a diverse array of animals, including pigs, Shetland ponies, donkeys, alpacas, goats, and Lincoln Longwool sheep.

The couple, who run the attraction with their daughter, Amy, issued a statement with the news. It said: “After much deliberation, the time has come for Julie and Clive to retire, and we feel the moment calls for honesty: this is not a decision we have taken lightly.

“The farm has been at the heart of our family for generations, and reopening its gates nearly ten years ago was one of the proudest chapters of our lives. Over the past decade, we have watched thousands of children meet their first animals, families return year after year, and a truly special community grow up around this place.

“We have laughed together, weathered two lockdowns side by side, and shared so many moments we will carry with us always. None of that would have been possible without you.”

It continued: “Until 12th April, we very much look forward to welcoming you to the farm one last time. Come and say hello to the animals, walk the familiar paths, and help us celebrate everything this special place has been.”

More than 100 people shared their sadness about the news. One person commented that this closure “will be the end of an era”, while another said “you’ll be hugely missed”. Locals and visitors have shared their plans to stop by once more before the closure.

One previous visitor said in a Google review: “The animals were so sweet and wonderful to see, there’s a cute little gift shop and Daphne’s Tea Room served delicious food at good prices. An absolute must visit if you’d like to get a smile on your face.”

Another visitor commented: “From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The farm is well-kept, with plenty of space to explore, and a great variety of animals to see and feed.”

A third visitor highlighted that Rutland Farm Park is “a wonderful place” and they “can’t rate this place highly enough”.