A popular farm which sits on the border of Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne has been given the green light to build an expansive adventure play park for children with a food and beverage kiosk.
Cockfields Farm Park on Lees New Road invites locals to the farm all year round with a range of activities, whether to pet and meet the animals during lambing season or welcome Santa in his magical grotto at Christmas time.
Even Marvel characters, such as Spiderman, Thor, Captain Marvel, Batman and the Hulk, have been spotted at the farm for a superhero meet-and-greet event.
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Now, however, the farm hopes to expand its provision even further for families by building a huge children's adventure playground that will be equipped with a new food and drink area.
@theoldhamtimes Who else wants to meet batman while feeding baby animals? 🙋🏻♀️ Cockfields Farm, on the border between Ashton and Oldham, is hosting the special superhero event. #batman #hulk #eventsforkids #farm #animals #lamb #rabbitsoftiktok #spiderman #superheroes ♬ Disney-style fanfare-style BGM - harryfaoki
In an application submitted in March this year, the farm stated the proposed park will complement its existing play and recreational facilities on offer, which include a display of farm animals, an indoor and outdoor playground, a bouncy pillow attraction, as well as a cafe and gift shop, to help it to continue to attract families.
The site itself concerns a plot of land on the farm which is situated to the south of Oldham, on the western edge of Lees New Road, and is surrounded by large open countryside.
The land is currently being used as an outdoor beach and picnic area by the farm.
The planning statement, submitted by the planning company Laister on behalf of the farm, stated that Cockfields is "embedded in the local community" as it attracts schools for educational purposes and visitors from all across Greater Manchester.
It said the new play area would "refresh" and "modernise" the farm.
In the park, there will be a play castle, which it has called Harshead Pike, with an access tower and connecting bridge with nets, a 'Viking' swing set as well as a toddler swing set, and three 'racing ziplines'.
It will also build a sand pit, utilising the already established sanded outdoor beach area, which will contain 'wobble boats' - timber boats with springs attached - and a boat house with sand pullies, buckets and waterplay rills which will cascade water with a hand pump.
The plans further reveal the farm will be building a pop-up food and beverage kiosk area with seating next to the main play towers.
Meanwhile, there will be a pathway leading to all the play features and woodland planting around the boundary of the site.
After receiving no objections to the proposal, Oldham Council approved the plans on May 5.
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