The Hayloft Cheshire, a family-run farm near Manchester, has opened its annual sunflower maze, offering families a budget-friendly day out with activities for all ages. The maze costs £3.50 per person and includes a letter hunt to make a word, plus two sunflower stems to take home. Extra stems from the pick-your-own area are £1 each.
Train Rides and Free Fun
A miniature train ride is also available at £3.50 per ride. The farm features a free sports field with swing ball, football, and tennis, a den building barn with slides and swings, a children's play area, and a pedal tractor barn. Visitors can meet animals including Belted Galloway cows, ponies, goats, sheep, and guinea pigs.
Coffee Shop and Ice Cream
The farm has an air-conditioned coffee shop and an ice cream parlour selling Cheshire Farm ice cream. The Hayloft is open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm, with later openings on selected summer dates for Sunflower Sundowners, serving drinks and stone-baked pizzas.
Events and Future Plans
Rod Owen, who runs the farm with his three children, said: "We welcome many thousands of people throughout the year. Of course school holidays are massive for us and we have lots to keep kids happy with the play barn and train." He added: "As well as the sunflowers, we have a huge Halloween event growing 25 acres of pumpkins. On the back of that event we intend to have a bonfire and firework display."
The farm recently hosted its first Hayloft Hoedown, a country and western night, and another is planned for Saturday, August 29, with limited tickets available. Owen said: "I have a wonderful team running The Hayloft and apart from being a coffee shop, we do weddings and functions, all in-house and catered by our great kitchen team of three chefs." Plans for 2027 include the return of Hayloft Live, a family-focused festival that previously attracted 2,000 people.
