A NEW attraction in Earls Colne looks like a scene out of Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals.

Monty’s Menagerie, in Coggeshall Road, is a new petting farm and will be putting on events where visitors have the chance to meet more than 45 farm animals.

Nina Whitnell, 33, has spent the past three years and £30,000 turning the land next to her home into an idyllic animal attraction.

The land cost Nina and hubby Stuart £100,000, and was once untamed, abandoned by its previous owner for nearly two decades.

Nina, who has spent most of her life working with animals, said: “It just sort of happened organically.

“I bought my first horse and it all took off from there.

“All the animals are mine.

“At most petting farms, you probably only get five minutes with the animals and they’re all cooped up, but it’s not like that here.

“The animals roam freely and we want them to experience that.

“This is my hobby and I want to share it.”

Nina’s animals include horses, a donkey, pigs, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens and a turkey.

The farm held two open days last year for charity and is now aiming to hold bigger events this year.

Monty’s Menagerie will be hosting the first of 2020 on April 28 which will also include a special avian show by Eden Falconry.

For more information, visit Monty’s Menagerie’s Facebook page at bit.ly/MontysMenagerie.