Last Updated on 22 April 2025 by Colette
Did you know that there is a pig sanctuary in Huddersfield where the pigs are allowed to freely roam ten acres of woodland – and you can wander through the woods with them!
Pigs in the Wood has been on my hit list for about a year now – someone mentioned it to be after seeing Chloe enjoying a pig experience at Tatton Park. I finally got round to booking a visit for the Easter holidays – do bear in mind though that Pigs in the Wood is only open on Saturdays and Sundays and your visit must be pre-booked.
What is Pigs in the Wood?
Pigs in the Wood is a not-for-profit animal sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and caring for pigs who’ve been neglected, abandoned, or are in need of a safe and loving home. It’s not just pigs either – you’ll also spot chickens and goats.
Pigs in the Wood is home to 26 pigs rescued from various unpleasant situations – from pigs being overbred in cramped conditions to one that had been living in a terraced house and was too big to get out of the front door. Pigs in the Wood provides these pigs with a safe new home and lots of freedom to live their best piggy lives snuffling in the woodland and basking in the sun.
The sanctuary runs entirely on donations and is powered by a passionate team of volunteers.
Visiting Pigs in the Wood
Entrance to Pigs in the Woods cost £6 person – this must be pre-booked online and includes a tour of the sanctuary with one of the volunteers who will tell you about the characters and backgrounds of some of the pigs. Once you’ve been shown around the site you are free to explore and interact with the pigs – though they can be quite grumpy with each other around food so if you buy some carrots with which to feed them you need to do that under supervision of volunteers.
There is a small café serving cake and drinks on site but you can’t take your own picnics or snacks (for the safety of the pigs and yourselves!). There are some fairly basic toilets available in the woodland (think festival vibes).
Pigs in the Woods is set in 10 acres of hilly woodland – there are some steps and a wooden walk way to make life easier but there’s a lot of uneven ground and tree roots to navigate so if you struggle with mobility issues I wouldn’t recommend visiting. You must wear wellies or a walking boots as the ground will likely be very muddy (though we struck lucky on our visit and the ground was fairly solid after an extended dry spell).
I was fascinated to learn that some of the pigs weighed as much as 50 stone! There is a hierarchy of pigs and each time a new pig is introduced to the sanctuary, they have to find their place in the pecking order – be it for food or tummy rubs! Apparently all the other pigs are scared of Daisy so if you’re giving her a fuss, the other pigs won’t go near you!
Whilst children of all ages are welcome at Pigs in the Wood, I would honestly think twice about taking little ones as the terrain is tricky and the animals are free roaming – whilst the staff are careful to keep grumpy goats like Kevin out of the way, nobody wants their small child knocked over by a food-focussed pig. Volunteers explained that the pigs are not going to set out to hurt people on purpose but they also won’t care if you are in their way! Because this is a sanctuary where pigs have been rescued from harm or slaughter, sensitive little ears might find someone of the information upsetting – though when the lady showing us round was worried about saying things in front of Amy, I told her not to sugar coat it – at 11 Amy is old enough to know. Essentially this isn’t a sanitised petting zoo, if you want to take little ones to see the animals, a farm might be a better option.
Where is Pigs in the Wood?
Pigs in the Wood is located at Highbridge Wood, Scissett, Huddersfield, HD8 8SZ – this was about an hour’s drive for us from our home in Manchester. Parking for Pigs in the Wood is just on the road outside.
Supporting Pigs in the Wood sanctuary
Tickets for Pigs in the Wood are priced at just £6 per person and every visit supports the sanctuary’s mission. There’s a small on-site café with all proceeds going directly back to the animals. You can sponsor a pig or sign up to volunteer if you’re local. You can also donate food for the animals – you’ll find a list of good and bad foods here.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Opening Times: Pigs in the Wood is only open on weekends. Check the Pigs in the Wood Facebook page or website before you visit, as opening days can vary due to weather and volunteer availability.
- Booking is recommended – Because visitor numbers are limited, I would recommend booking your slot ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
- Arrive early: You are asked to arrive ten minutes before your booked time to allow for a health and safety briefing before your tour (though our briefing happened at our booked time so who knows!)
- Parking: Free parking is available on the road just outside the sanctuary entrance.
- Accessibility: Paths are natural and can be very muddy so would present a significant challenge for those with mobility issues. I think even rugged buggies would find the woodland hard going and it is definitely not suitable for wheelchairs. Suitable footwear is vital – walking boots or wellies.
- Dogs: No dogs are allowed (except assistance dogs), to keep the pigs calm and stress-free.
- Picnics: There’s plenty of space to sit down and rest in the woodland and an onsite café serving refreshments but you are asked not to take your own food on site.
- Wash your hands: There is the opportunity to wash your hands near the cafe but I would recommend having some hand sanitiser for when you get back to the car too!
Check out this video from our visit!
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