Pippa Middleton puts 'hoppiness' back in Bucklebury Farm

Pippa Middleton is proving that family fun and animal welfare can go hand in hand. 

The Princess of Wales’s sister, alongside husband James Matthews, has been praised for making a “welfare-conscious” change at their £1.5 million Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire.

The couple’s 72-acre property, complete with a deer park and children’s play areas, has officially ended all petting sessions for rabbits, guinea pigs, and young goats hailed by animal charities. 

The change comes after the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RAWF) contacted 573 farms urging better protection for animals, with Bucklebury being the first to act.

RAWF confirmed that the farm is now working with the charity to phase out “pat-a-pet” sessions, investing in upgraded housing for the rabbits. In a statement on Instagram, the organisation explained,

"Earlier this year, we launched our Don’t Bug Bunnies campaign to highlight the issues of pat-a-pet sessions & poor living conditions at farm parks. 

Farm parks might look like fun family days out but behind the scenes, many animals, especially rabbits and guinea pigs, are suffering and are often kept in tiny hutches. 

We're excited to reveal that we’ve been working with @bucklebury.farm to revamp their rabbit area and create a more welfare-conscious experience."

Pippa Middleton and her husband are setting a new gold standard in animal welfare at their Bucklebury Farm in Berkshire. 

The couple moved their three children into a nearby £15 million, 32 room Georgian home in 2022, have now completely overhauled the farm’s petting zoo.

Following guidance from the association, they have invested in spacious, enriched housing for their rabbits and RAWF says the results are “amazing.”