Education At Fordhall Farm

 

“Learning is experiencing, everything else is just information” Albert Einstein

FREE Visits For Schools

At Fordhall we offer stimulating educational experience days for groups of all ages.

A day at Fordhall will bring to life many areas of the National Curriculum, including Science, PSHE, Geography, History, English, Art and Citizenship.

Here are some of the many topics a visit to the farm can cover:

  • Community land ownership
  • Pig rearing
  • Organic farming principals – even a bit of Foggage!
  • Habitat studies – streams, woodlands, wetlands, rivers, grasslands and hedgerow
  • Organic sheep and cow production
  • Free range chicken production
  • Local history – Fordhall was one of England’s first commercial yoghurt producers
  • Geographical river studies or pond/river dipping
  • Food miles and local food production (in conjunction with a visit to our Farm Shop)
  • Mini-beast studies
  • Arts and creative crafts
  • Forest school inspired sessions

Our group facilities are improving constantly. We have a dry classroom, eco Straw Lodge building and human pig-arc for indoor activities, a forest school area, a picnic area and of course, access to the fields, meadows, woodlands and ponds. Coach parking is available and we have a thought provoking compost loo (in addition to conventional toilets).

Programmes can be tailored to suit your group’s needs and whilst visits are generally planned and delivered by our experienced education staff, schools are welcome to lead their own visits. Please contact us to discuss your requirements, for support in planning and to make your booking.

We can currently offer one free visit per school per year subject to availability. Contact us to check if we have any available for your school.

All visits must be booked in advance and we encourage a pre-visit by group leaders.

Download our 2022 Teachers Pack HERE

Travel – Please view this link for a list of organisations which – depending on schools meeting their criteria – could cover or subsidise your school’s travel costs.www.countrytrust.org.uk/news/post/funding-for-schools

We can also run weekend or evening sessions for community groups such as Cubs, Scouts, Brownies etc – please email us on project@fordhallfarm.com to enquire.

Residential Visits: We can now offer residential visits for up to 30 in our stunning eco building The Straw Lodge. Children can get fully immersed in nature, waking up to the sights and sounds of the farm and natural world (even the dormitories have been carefully designed so that each bunk bed has its own little window to the world!) We can include catering options and enhanced activities packages. Please contact our residential lead Mike Grabarz to find out more. Email: mike.grabarz@fordhallfarm.com.

Download our 2023 Residential Pack HERE

DIY residential visits: Although we are unable to offer our full activity and catering packages at certain times of the year, you still have the opportunity to stay in our beautiful purpose-built Straw Lodge with access to our farmland and woodland. Available for 1, 2 or 3-night residentials in School Holidays and weekdays from March to October. Or we have weekend-only availability between October and March. For more information click HERE

Click HERE to see more general information on The Straw Lodge.

For testimonials from some of our past school and school group visits CLICK HERE

Woodland Camping Residentials: These visits are perfect for uniformed community groups or D-of-E Expeditions. Please note this package is not available for private groups or family visits. This must be led by suitably accredited and insured group leaders.

Click HERE for more information about camping visits.

For Interest Groups

We can also cater for your local group whether it is  U3A, WI, Rotary, Natural History, Organic Gardeners or other. Why not choose something different and arrange a visit to England’s first community-owned farm.charlotte guided walk fordhall

We offer guided walks by Charlotte Hollins around Fordhall. These generally take about 1.5 hours and provide you with the inspiring behind-the-scenes story of how this historic farm was saved from development by thousands of people across the world. The walk also covers the unique Foggage farming system, organics, volunteering and more.

Walks can be offered free of charge, and refreshments can be organised on request for a small charge. This may consist of anything from a cup of tea and cake to a full buffet. Or you may decide to bring your own picnic and make an afternoon of it in the picnic area.

Walks need to be booked for a minimum of 10 people with a maximum of 25. The terrain is variable with moderate hills and there are no stiles to climb.

If you are interested in booking a walk at Fordhall please contact the office on 01630 638696 or email us at project@fordhallfarm.com.