Summer of fun on the Farm

By Rachel Hippolyte, Education Co-Ordinator

With the pandemic putting the dampener on all our summers last year, the team at the Farm wanted the welcome as many children and families to the farm as possible. We programmed a summer packed with free events for children and young people to get involved in.  Over 200 children from the local community and beyond took part in our educational activities and workshops designed to foster nature connection, build curiosity, encourage adventure and spark creativity.

Kids Growing Club

We had gardening, animal care sessions and farm tours, delivered by our staff and dedicated volunteers. Children experienced what it was like to be a young ecologist with Froglife and got their creative juices flowing in a Screen printing workshop delivered by Giant Triplets. There was weekly storytelling and donkey rides, forest school and craft sessions. Children had a chance to sharpen their woodwork skills with Super Roots and used the farm for literary inspirations during a nature connection creative writing workshop. 166 meals were cooked and eaten by children and their parents in our weekly Farm 2 Fork kids club with ingredients foraged from the farm.

Donkey Grooming

Kids Woodworking

Community is at the heart of what we do and why the team of staff and volunteers work so hard to keep the farm flourishing. This summer saw the community come out in force with many children from local primary schools, Thomas Buxton and St Ann’s attending the sessions. It was also great to see familiar faces week after week.

Totem Tales Workshop

The pandemic has highlighted how important access to nature is for children and young people but often, those living in the city experience additional barriers to accessing nature and quality outdoor spaces. At the farm we know that the health and wellbeing benefits gained from learning in and about nature are vast and our holiday activities form part of a wider educational programme working with local schools and youth organisations. Our aim is to engage as many children as possible with the natural world, helping to build stronger, healthier communities.

Foraging Tour

Farm 2 Fork Kids Club

It was lovely to see so many local families visiting and getting involved and as we leave the summer behind, the new season brings many opportunities for parents and carers to continue fostering nature connection with their children at home.

Here are 4 activities for children as we transition into autumn:

1. Explore the magical world of fungi as September sees mushroom season kick off. Use the Wildlife trusts guide to Identify the different species you can find on a walk in local green spaces.

2. Help protect our wildlife by building a bug hotel for minibeasts to hideout in during the colder months with RSPB’s comprehensive guide.

3. Take an inventory of the wildlife you see in your local area. Take photographs, make drawings and note down all the plants and animals you can find. Do the same in winter, spring and summer to see how your local area is changing with the seasons.

4. Summer is the most productive growing time of year and historically Autumn would have been a time for preserving left over vegetables and fruit to feed families through the lean months. Children love cooking and our Farm 2 Fork sessions were by far the most popular. Why not try this easy pickling recipe for kids?