For students, a farm visit is a great opportunity to see first-hand how and where the food they eat is actually grown and how farmers, as custodians of the countryside, can manage the land sustainably to promote wildlife and protect the environment. It is an enriching experience for young people and can also encourage enthusiasm for careers in agriculture. As well as this, there are benefits for students of all ages of simply being out of the classroom and into the countryside, experiencing the freedom of open spaces and being close to nature.

At Clive and Veronica’s 34-acre tenanted farm in Gallowstree Common, we practice regenerative agriculture, encouraging biodiversity and soil health on the land, and are committed to the Government’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme. As part of this scheme, we provide group visits for young people in education from the ages of 4 to 18 that are fully funded by the Government. The main purpose of these is to explain the links between farming, conservation and food production.

We tailor each visit to the pupils’ understanding and requirements and include some seasonal practical activities for either primary or secondary levels. We can encompass various themes, such as: ‘Where Our Food Comes From’, ‘Farming and the Environment’, ‘An Introduction to Rural Skills’, or we can incorporate related themes to what you may be covering in your curriculum. We have, on most of the land, established a herbal ley for sheep grazing and a hay crop, with a smaller area of wildflower meadow on the rest of the land to encourage birds and insects, with new hedgerow planting and a small orchard. This gives plenty of opportunity for showing the students an understanding of how a regenerative farm integrates into an eco-system and works throughout the different seasons.

If you are a teacher and would like a visit for your students, you can simply click on this link to make a booking: https://calendly.com/hedgecraft-theoldfarmyard 

Here are the details you may need to know before making a booking:

• Each visit lasts @ 2 hours
• For the pupils to gain most benefit, we do limit the maximum number to 15; for larger classes, you are very welcome to book separate visits
• There is parking available on the field for a minibus, a covered open area in case of inclement weather and a composting toilet with handwashing facilities
• Students with disabilities welcome. The ground is firm for wheelchair access
• As part of our DEFRA agreement, we do provide a risk assessment; all that is needed from the school is to complete an attendance form for DEFRA’s records that we would supply you with

If you wanted to discuss anything further, please feel free to contact us.

If you are an interested parent, do please let your child’s school know about this scheme.

“The Eco-Committee students had a great time meeting Clive and Veronica on their farm. Learning about the different way in which they farm their land, as well as having a go at weaving a hazel fence. The passion and enthusiasm they had for their work really resonated with our students and they had a great connection with them. We now have a wonderful relationship with them and they have even been over to support our own biodiversity project! We will definitely be regular visitors to the farm. Thank you!”

Emma Saunders, Little Heath School Eco-Committee