Peterborough’s Sacrewell has big plans for the future after successful re-opening post-Covid lockdown

Two Fridays ago Sacrewell allowed people in for the first time, albeit with heavily reduced numbers, and despite it being a weekday every available slot was taken up.

The popularity of the farm off the A47 bodes well for its future which includes exciting plans to bring in a new restaurant, outdoor play area and artisan courtyard.

General manager Lee Scowen told the Peterborough Telegraph: “We’re spending a lot of money on the site but we have to do that to make the business sustainable.

“We are a charity, and being shut for four months hit us very hard. We lost a substantial amount of money and we’re thankful for our annual pass members who support us.

“Our aim is to improve our offering to visitors to make Sacrewell more of a destination for people to come to with improved facilities.”

With no visitors for many months, Sacrewell placed 18 members of staff on furlough, with five left to maintain the site. Those being taken off furlough are being given a phased return so they can build their confidence up after a long absence.

The site opened to visitors on Friday, July 3, with 300 people allowed in both between 9am and noon, and between 1pm and 4pm.

Normally, 1,600 people can be present at any one time.

The numbers are being restricted to allow for social distancing and to make sure visitors feel comfortable before increasing the numbers allowed in.

And with the re-opening being successfully carried out, more attention can now be put towards an exciting revamp of one of Peterborough’s most popular attractions, which is run as a charity by the William Scott Abbott Trust and boasts a farm and restored eighteenth century watermill.

At the forefront of those plans is a new artisan courtyard which is due to open in October. It will boast Stamford Heavenly Chocolates as well as a cheesemonger, micro gin distillery, illustrator, blacksmith, woodcarver and, hopefully, a glassblower or pottery maker.

The aim is to blend a mix of traditional and new trades, according to Lee.

Further developments include a new outdoor play area for youngsters aged from one up to 13 which will incorporate the watermill.

It is hoped the children will enjoy playing on a tractor which will then inspire them to go and see one in action on the site.

“The aim is they will come and play then look at the real thing so we can tie it in with education,” said Lee.

“Research shows the more children enjoy education the more they will take in.”

With the new play area going inside the farm, it will mean the camping area will be relocated.

But this is being seen as an opportunity, with the camping play area moved outside with a football pitch and table tennis put in place.

Plans are also in place to put a new restaurant in the old farmhouse which will use organic produce from Riverford which is located at the site.

However, this has been delayed until 2021.

Moreover, the farm hosts a number of rare breeds, including Lincoln Longwool, Jacob and Suffolk Punch horses and British Landrace pigs, and a rare breed programme is being carried out to keep the race of animals alive.

It is a “very busy time,” Lee acknowledged, but he hopes that it will prove beneficial in the long run to keep Sacrewell as a top destination for people to visit.

“We’re going through a big transformation to really improve our offering so people in Peterborough and the surrounding areas find something to enjoy,” he added.