Pondarosa

Ponderosa is a beautiful nature reserve. Well worth the visit if you have kids. Students at our Dewsbury learning centre have mentioned this a few times and it appears to be quite popular among the little scientists and gardeners amongst us. -- The EducateFirst Team

This place is fantastic. Feed the animals, play in the adventure park and on the sands. Ride the horses and find unusual animals from around the world!

I and my Kids have been to Pondarose many time's and yet every time my kids fall asleep after the visit works wonders with them. From looking and playing if its just a small fun packed day out you want Pondarosa has it for you. Andy M

The disabled access can be poor depending on your level of mobility.

The cafe is quite poor, and doesn’t accept cards, so if you’ve gone without cash, you’ll go hungry I’m afraid.

Very hard to find, as it isn’t signposted properly.

Parking is difficult and sloped.

However, friendly staff, and the animals seem well looked after.

Polpular with schools and group visits I’ve been twice and timed it badly.It can be quiet I’ve been told if you are lucky.Not been yto a lot of these things but this one seems a bit cobbled together nothing seemed particularily exotic and it is not exactly cheap to get in.Ultimate judges been my two children who have not asked to go back.Is also not the easiest palce in the world to find.

lovely outdoor place to visit with the kids. it is very educational and fun for them as they are up close with the more unusual breeds of animals that you normally get on a farm. hands on experience of animals. dont forget the wellies.

thanks lilmiss1982
looking for new places to go this coming hols, might have to give this place a try now!

Ponderosa Farm, I was delighted when a friends took me to this little gem hidden away in Heckmondwike West Yorkshire. I couldn’t believe the huge range of animals they have far better than anything similar I have visited in the past.

This place is really child friendly with so much for them to see. We bought a bag of feed for 50p to feed the farm animals and it was a lovely experience seeing the animals so close. The farm animal include pigs, goats and sheep as well as rabbits. But whats great about Pondarose is all other animals they keep. There were birds of prey which included a beautiful Kestrel.

Also Meerkats which were just having there feed when we saw them first which happened to be baby chicks which I found a bit gross and perhaps might have been a bit upsetting for children to see but when we went back later they were playing around and were very cute I would have loved to have taken one home.

There was also a reptile house which we went to. I was slightly surprised they as we walk through part of the house in the tropical plants was what appeared to be sum kind of large lizards just wondering about which did make me feel slightly uneasy but I just stayed where it was and I am a bit of wimp. They had a snake out with a handler in one room and I was too scared to go in but its a great way to get kids interested in animals we saw them handling lots of animals so its great fun as well as they learning lots too they staff we were friendly and seem to enjoying sharing all there knowledge about the animals with everyone.

Also whats great is dotted around the site are many different play area’s for the children with tonnes of climbing frames and slides for them.

There is a coffee shop serving cold sandwiches, toasted sandwiches, ice cream & refreshments. Disabled access. As well as plenty of picnic areas. there are toilets and a nice little gift shop.

There is so much to do make sure you allow yourself enough time to see everything. I recommend going on a dry day to get the most out of Pondarose.

Open from 10am - 4pm 7 days a week Monday through Sunday. We are open all year round only closing for Christmas and New Year. (Dates are confirmed nearer the time).

Admission 4.00 pounds adults 3.50 children under 2’s are free

From Manchester:

Come off the M62 at Junction 26 - turn right onto the A638 - Follow this road through Cleckheaton - Turn right at the clock tower in Heckmondwike centre. The centre is sign posted on the right. Turn down Station lane, under the railway bridge, past Al Murad tiles and we are the next left turn.

From Leeds:

Turn off M62 at Junction 27 (Showcase Cinema) and pick up the A62 towards Huddersfield. Through 6 sets of light and turn left into Heckmondwike centre - then turn right at the clock tower in Heckmondwike centre. The centre is sign posted on the right. Turn down Station lane, under the railway bridge, past Al Murad tiles and we are the next left turn