Every school holiday we aim to provide free drop-in activities for families. In Summer 2023 we were able to deliver a full programme of activities 6 days a week thanks to funding support from the Hilden Trust and Kusuma Trust.
The Programme
Meet the small animals – A drop in session to learn about and get close up to some of the rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.
Wildlife and plants – Activities to inspire a contact with plants and wildlife. Children and families decorated pots and planted spider plants, planted and designed miniature gardens in reclaimed, pallet boxes, made jewelled insects and bugs, paper flowers and made macramé plant hangers.
Farm art – Art inspired by the farm, animals, materials and space encouraging looking closer and taking time. Farm images using print techniques, upcycled jam jars using glass paints, willow dream catchers, badge making
Woodwork – Crafting timber from the farm hedgerows and trees, thread a wooden caterpillar, decorated ash coasters, farm journey sticks, stick people, wooden puppets, bird and bug houses.
Farm crafts – Traditional country crafts, spinning and weaving with the farm fleeces, felt making, beeswax candle making.
outcomes and feedback
Children and families had new experiences and opportunities to learn together.
‘This has been a lovely experience so much to learn for all of us’
Children enjoyed hands on, active and creative activities.
‘Thank you I really liked making my caterpillar’
‘Look at my badge!’
‘I want to be a worm, whale, sheep………unicorn………guinea pig…actually pig’
‘We’ve been to nearly all of the different afternoons they love making things’
Parents and carers, especially families with experience of trauma or health issues and parents of children with disabilities, had support, time and space to enjoy positive interactions with children.
‘We’ve had such a lovely day, we had chicken’s back home which she used to feed with me so it was nice to be able to do that together here ’
Families spent more time outdoors and in nature and benefited from improved mood and increased feelings of wellbeing and relaxation.
‘We are so lucky to have this on our doorstep, we’re moving back to the Derbyshire countryside and I don’t know where my daughter will be able to have the same chance to get outdoors and be in contact with animals, people in the community and growing things.’
‘It’s peaceful here even when it’s busy and you’ve been busy somehow you feel rested’
Children and adults learned more about nature, animals and the environment.
‘We’ve got some tips on how to grow plants at home and green our space.’
‘I learned that lots of types of bugs are good for the plants, spiders help to stop there being too many flies and most creepy crawlies don’t hurt us so I will try not to worry about them being around.’
Children gained confidence and developed new skills including, problem solving, manual dexterity and speaking and language.
‘This is so great, he doesn’t usually talk to other people’
‘We put sellotape round the end of the string so that we could thread it through the wood easier’
Children with disabilities, communication difficulties or lacking in confidence were able to participate in sessions and access opportunities on a more equal footing and benefit from reduced isolation.
‘I visited with my nephew , who is very shy and quiet. I mentioned he was unable to hold the rabbits on a previous visit as it was too busy. A member of staff offered to get a rabbit out for him today, when this kind of opportunity wasn’t on the programme again until next week. He was one happy boy afterwards. It made our visit today with him that extra special.’
‘My son loves this, we really enjoy coming to the farm and taking part in activities, the children have autism and you are all patient and kind, there are not many places we can go together.’