Please note, we are not an open farm and to visit you must have a booking.
Availability is typically updated on a monthly basis, but please do get in touch if you are looking for any specific dates.
We operate from February to early November. We are a working farm, so please do allow for a few days to respond to enquiries.
About Us
Welcome to Frankie and Friends
We are Jake and Melisa, the team behind Frankie and Friends Farm Encounters based at Hazeley Farm, proudly supporting British farming.
Hazeley Farm is one of Hampshire County Councils tenant farms with 150 acres, and we are its current tenants, along side our 80 head herd of dairy cattle, small flock of sheep and our dogs!
In late 2025 we wanted to identify ways we could diversify the business and secure our future here at Hazeley Farm, but also in farming long term. This is when we combined our skillsets together and Frankie and Friends Farm Encounters was born.
About Jake
Jake, originally from Swanage, owned his first 2 sheep at the age of 14 years old and has worked across multiple areas of farming while building his own livestock numbers before establishing J C Smith Farm LTD in 2022.
Starting out with beef and sheep, Jake jumped at the opportunity to develop the business later turning to dairy farming in late 2024.
Jake has an all-round passion for livestock and animals and was given the chance to study agriculture as an apprentice in a way that suited him, which also sparked a desire to get people into farming and offer opportunities to those outside of farming to learn and get out on the farm too.
About Melisa
Melisa grew up fuelled by the desire to know more. More about animals. Why they behave the way they do? Why do they do the things they do? Inspired by her grandparents and fuelled by her parents Melisa grew up keeping and breeding birds and later rabbits.
From there she studied animals at college and university all whilst exploring all areas of the animal industry. During this time, she identified a passion for education with animals and the way we interact with animals and its value to both people and animals. She eventually landed in poultry farming and worked her way to helping to manage the farm and its reindeer hire business.
Melisa left this in 2023 and pursued setting up her own business Deer Friends Reindeer Hire, which still operates today (separate to Frankie and Friends) and specialises in educational visits. Melisa also has a background of working with children and adults with additional needs and in customer service roles.
Here we are establishing Frankie and Friends in 2026 combining our knowledge and skills, welcoming you to Frankie and Friends, our joint venture aimed at bringing personal, safe and educational encounters to you.