Farm attraction saved by move to theme park

Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park in Sheffield is set to reopen at a different location

A visitor attraction has been saved at the eleventh hour after the land it rented was put up for sale.

Back in November, the future of Mayfield Alpacas Animal Farm in Sheffield hung in the balance when its owners realised they would not be able to afford to buy the site.

They said they had come to terms with the expected closure before Gulliver's Valley offered them the opportunity to move to the Rotherham theme park at the "last minute".

Co-owner Andrew Jonas said the deal meant the farm would have a bigger footprint and the chance to attract more visitors.

Team effort

The businessman and zookeeper told BBC Radio Sheffield: "I always think things happen for a reason. In the eye of the storm you always think it's the worst time.

"But it has worked out for us, it's a much better site, there is much bigger footfall."

Mr Jonas, who ran the park in Ringinglow, with his wife Keeley, said the couple had already looked at rehoming the animals and explored alternative jobs when Gulliver's approached them.

Over a two-week period in February, they relocated 170 animals including exotic birds, meerkats, reindeer, skunks and porcupines.

The alpacas, which belong to the landowners of the original site, have stayed behind and will form part of a new family attraction in the future.

"You always think moving is easier than it is and that's just with furniture, but add in 170 animals and that is quite a feat in itself," Mr Jonas said.

"It's taken a lot of team effort and a lot of volunteers to help us get them across there."

The couple's new attraction at the Gulliver's Valley resort will officially open as Valley Wildlife from 10 September every Tuesday to Thursday.

In the future, they hope to open a separate zoo on the same site with its own entrance.

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