As everyone will know by now, our wonderful armed services have been called up to cover for the shortages in security staff for the London Olympics as G4S were one or two people short, well around 18,000 actually, still who is counting.

So generous Old Macdonald issued a special invitation to the families of those from Colchester Barracks to come down for a free day out at the farm on July 25th, and hundreds of the family members came along. So here are some of the images of what was a great day out for everyone, in wonderful summer weather too! Just our way of saying thank you for their hard working in saving this country’s embarrassment and keeping us all safe, again!

We did organise a special day out for G4S staff too, but no one came! But if like the Army Families you are looking for somewhere to go during the Olympics, well here we are in Brentwood. The photos above include Major Jon White from 16th Airborne Brigade plus some of the families, and Councillor Ann Coe the Mayor of Brentwood plus the odd horse, owl and of course our staff!

Also, thought we would share with you our great day with Pip’s Puppets ( www.pipspuppets.com) whose great animal show enthralled the crowds on the farm on Saturday, whilst we bit our fingers wondering how Mark Cavendish was getting on! Oh dear, we know now. Never mind, lots more to come.

Want to get away from the London throngs, particularly around east London where there is some sports competition or other going on, and come to the next best place to London?

Well, owls are meant to be wise and our wonderful Owl family of Mum and Dad Snowy Owl plus their three chicks, know what is best and that is to rush down to Old Macdonald’s Farm.

See our Owls in pics if you like, or not, but for summer fun and a great day out with free parking, no traffic lanes out of bounds, and fresh air, fun and value for money, we are the place for you. And don’t you just love these photos…..taken at great risk by Ginek our keeper whilst feeding?

What a great sport he is, and so athletic! Everything rings true here!

Old Macdonald likes to watch the birdie, and last weekend he had a real treat. Not only did he welcome the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to your favourite fam, but he also admired the wonderful snowy owl chicks produced by his lovely pair of proud parents.

The RSPB had a stand and information officer in our outdoor stable for Saturday and Sunday, and whilst the first day was a bit damp (even the ducks said the weather was not nice) the Sunday was dry and warm, and crowds of visitors learnt a lot, and also made badges and spent time and we hope money supporting their work in the South Essex Marshes in particular.

Meanwhile our lovely and proud Snowy parents feed their chicks in our special aviary, and for everyone visiting do go and look because baby snowly owls are grey, and large and plump too, so go and look and see. Very soon they will have their full grown plumage.

Plus we dare not have a feature on Owls without showing off Annie our European Eagle Owl, here seen meeting the Mayor of Brentwood in 2011/12 Councillor Mrs Holmes on our Army Family Day and also with Major Jon White and then with some of the families from Colchester Barracks in July 2012.

So we are avian a great time on the farm (what a dreadful pun….apologies)