Opened in 1966, Pets' Corner is a small, friendly farm located in Harlow Town Park.
It has a large selection of traditional farm animals, such as rabbits, chickens and ducks, more exotic animals such as reindeer, llamas and alpacas, as well as a number of rare breeds including Tamworth, Oxford Sandy and Black pigs.
Pets' Corner also has an aquarium with a wide range of fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
Our larger animals spend their days in the paddocks grazing and getting some much-needed exercise, so if you visit Pets’ Corner and there are empty pens inside, take a stroll around the paddocks to say hello.
We do not allow public to feed any of our animals unless it is part of an experience, so please do not bring any feed with you, our keepers will ensure our animals have a balanced diet.
Opening times
Open 7 days a week from 11am to 4pm.
Pets' Corner is closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Admission
Pets' Corner is free to enter, but welcomes donations in the box on site.
Pets' Corner's location is: Town Park, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2QG.
Pets' Corner does not have its own car park. The nearest council car park is a 3-minute walk away in School Lane.
Pets Corner is a 10-minute walk from Harlow Town train station.
There are toilets available on site, including a Changing Places toilet which you case an access by completing the Changing Places key application request form (pdf)
Dogs are not allowed into the walled area of Pets’ Corner but are welcome within the park itself. Please keep dogs on leads and pick up after them.
Get involved
Land Based Studies is a certificated educational course run in partnership with Writtle College.
The course is a 1 or 2 year course delivered 1 day per week on a Wednesday or Thursday at Pets' Corner targeted at 14 to 16 year olds. Participants will be working closely with all the animals at Pets' Corner including mucking out, feeding, grooming, providing enrichment as well as other animal welfare tasks.
The course is mainly practical based so it’s working with the animals in an informal setting along with some classroom studies as you work towards a Level 1 City and Guilds qualification.
For further details and how to apply for the course please email karen.hughes@harlow.gov.uk
Applicants can also read our Land Based Studies privacy notice.
We offer a wide range of animal experiences for all abilities and ages 4 and over, each day of the week. Get close to your favourite animal for a meet and greet session or why not shadow one of our keepers and find out what’s really involved in caring for our animals. Contact stacey.clarke@harlow.gov.uk for more information.
Pets' Corner offers many volunteering opportunities, including working with the animals, helping with events and in our gift shop.
Volunteering can be any day of the week, for a couple of hours or all day - all we ask for is enthusiasm and a love of animals, as training is given on site. Contact us for more information.
Volunteers at Pets' Corner need to be aged 14 years and over.
The Friends of Pets' Corner aim to support the work of Pets’ Corner and to promote the welfare and availability of animals to the people of Harlow for educational and social purposes.
This group runs their own events, as well as providing support for others throughout the year and are always looking for additional members to be involved with helping organise events and run a wide variety of fundraising activities.
The Friends have been constituted and welcome new members over 18 years. Email Friends of Pets' Corner for more details, or to join.
If you've enjoyed your visit, made a new friend or are just looking for a gift with a difference, then why not sponsor one of our animals? Sponsorship is available to anyone who loves animals or would like to support Pets' Corner, from companies to individuals, families or schools. Company sponsorship will promote the company name and logo on the animal’s pen and the company will receive a mention in any publicity regarding the animal.
If you're interested in sponsoring an animal, you need to fill out a sponsorship application form (pdf)
Events, visits and corporate
Pets' Corner and the Town Park offer educational packages for a range of ages, linked to the national curriculum. These involve guided tours around the park and Pets' Corner, meeting the animals and learning about the park.
If you're interested in arranging a school visit, you can find more information in our Pets' Corner school visit packages (pdf)
We have a range of birthday party packages, depending on budgets and time, we hope there is something here to suit everyone.
For those short of time, guided tours with our knowledgeable members of staff and volunteers will provide guests with the chance take in the wonderful sights and sounds of the farm.
If a little more time is available, there are many activities on offer, allowing the guests to get hands on with practical activities. Guests also have the opportunity to use our indoor learning centre space, with use of the kitchen and toilet facilities.
If you are interested in arranging a party, you can find more information in our Pets' Corner party packages (pdf)
Pets' Corner hosts a variety of corporate events, arranging team building days and family petting days. We also provide corporate volunteering days, a chance to get your team together, put on some wellies, pick up a shovel and help on the farm for a day of outdoor based activities. Please contact us to see how an event can be tailored to your business.