F OR
FARMS
CITY CHILDREN
NEWSLETTER
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2 0 2 N M U T AU
CONTENTS Welcome
1
Life Changing Visit
3
Nethercott House
5
Mower Appeal
7
Our Impact
8
Lower Treginnis
9
Challenge Yourself
11
Our Supporters
12
Wick Court
13
Shop
15
CONTACTS www.farmsforcitychildren.org admin@farmsforcitychildren.org 01392 276381 Farms For City Children, Huxham Barns, Huxham, Exeter, EX5 4EJ
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST NEWS farmsforcitychildren farmersforaweek farmsforcitychildren
WELCOME As the land yields a plentiful harvest bounty, nature transitions, and with the colourful vibrancy of autumn fast upon us, I share with you this newsletter to welcome a new season at Farms for City Children. The charity celebrated an incredible 2022/23 with more beneficiaries than ever before enjoying a transformative week of muck and magic from their immersive residential week on the farm. With 3,326 children and young people, and 620 teachers and youth workers passing through the farm gate, the charity was busier than ever sharing our food, farming, and nature connected offer with some wonderful schools, community groups, and charities. Our stunning farms at Wick Court, Lower Treginnis and Nethercott House, welcomed beneficiaries from 17 London boroughs, 13 English counties and 4 counties across Wales. Children came from the city and from rural and coastal areas, supported by their teachers
to increase their learning and engagement, improve connections and wellbeing, and to develop an enhanced sense of environmental citizenship from a week of meaningful routine and seasonal farm tasks. Adults reported that our offer enhanced physical activity, fostered social connections, increased awareness of nature, and built resilience, grit, and growth mindset. Children and young people committed themselves to acts of service on the farm each day, compassionately collaborating to tend to the livestock, maintain the abundant kitchen gardens, and to preparing nutritious organic meals to feed their community. With their curiosity ignited, and their courage and confidence built by exposure to new and challenging tasks that pushed them out of their comfort zones, children and teachers bonded in beekeeping sessions, tree planting, pig weighing and lamb halter training. Coastal walks, bird watching, equine sessions, willow weaving, and mindfulness sessions in the roundhouse or at the fire pit, ensured that all of our beneficiaries returned home with greater empathy for nature and a renewed determination to be the custodians of our land for generations to come. We also know that we cannot deliver this
AT A WEEK H T W O N K E W NGES LIVES. A H C S IE L L E IN W FOREVER.
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for children, young people, and their teachers without the enduring support of our funders and donors whose generosity enables us to reach more beneficiaries every year. Your financial support secures this inspiring and character-building experience, and we are immeasurably grateful to you for empowering the next generation to grow up deeply connected to the natural world.
Donna Edmonds, CEO
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M TIME ON THE FAR
A LIFE-CHANGING VISIT TO WICK COURT This summer, Wick Court welcomed 33 children and young people, aged between 8 and 15 from Walton Community Youth Project in Merseyside. For five days they immersed themselves into the full farm experience. Below is an interview with Darren and Katie, the project’s manager and youth worker, about the difference it made.
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How was your week at Wick Court? The week was an amazing experience. It was challenging, but the growth of the young people and the development of their relationships was significant. The whole week was completely unique and different to anything they had done before. There was so much to take away from it; so many outstanding moments.
What are the main things you think the children took from the week? Overcoming fears. For instance, with the bee keeping activity, many of the children experienced complete fear at first. But when they saw the adults doing it, a number came forward to hold the honeycomb (covered in bees) and really challenged themselves. The food was quite a change too. Long gone was the fast, convenient food, replaced with healthy meals. Some took a while to get used to it, but by the end of the week the majority were really enjoying eating things that they had made or even harvested. The biggest thing, however, was the connection with the animals and between the young people themselves. They would socialise with people they had never spoken to before and were able to express their emotions to an animal in a way they just can’t to a human.
Were there any individuals that really stood out for you? Definitely J. It was quite emotional to see the difference that the farm and being in nature made to him. J is 15 and lives with autism, DCD, dyspraxia and poor motor skills. He was struggling on the farm and got very worked up about not having the time to make decisions. As the week went on, J took part in activities, and he flourished. Importantly, when it did get too much for him, it was a walk on the farm or time with the animals (in particular the horses) that reassured him that he was ok.
On leaving the farm, J has begun to display behaviours completely unseen before. He took the lead in a session, writing on a whiteboard about how important good food is. Before the trip he had never put himself forward - we had never even seen him write! J’s mum has even noticed a difference; he is trying new food. She couldn’t believe it when he was happy to have hummus.
Your visit was made possible because of a grant from the Steve Morgan Foundation, what difference did this funding make to you? We would not have been able to come without the grant. This opportunity was extremely rare for us, but the difference it made was amazing. These children are from very under-served communities and they do not get the opportunity to do this sort of thing. The funding made it all possible.
Since being home, have you seen a difference amongst the children? Since we have come back, there has been a massive leap in confidence amongst the children. The progression we have seen from kids who really struggle is massive, and we know in 6 months that growth will be even greater.
What would you say to someone considering a visit to a Farms for City Children Farm? Don’t hesitate to say yes and do it. Everyone who attended has not stopped talking about it. We told the children that this is a unique opportunity, and we completely believe you offer a learning experience like no other. It is a hands-on experience, which is where the learning happens.
on… re groups like Walt You can help mo oups to ort more gr like to supp ic on our ag m If you would d k an week of muc a m fro becoming fit bene e charity by n support th farms, you ca nor. d click a regular do ildren.org an rmsforcitych n. tio na Visit www.fa do r gula t up your re ‘donate’ to se
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FARM NEWS
The past year has been a whirlwind of activity, hosting a wide range of groups and individuals, all of whom have contributed to the rich tapestry of experiences that define Nethercott House. We welcomed a total of 40 different groups with 23 young people completing the residential element of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, and we also had the privilege of working alongside 14 Ukrainian refugee families who became an integral part of our special community. One of the significant developments this year has been the reclamation of land and buildings
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at Burrow. This expansion has allowed us to embark on numerous firsts. Our first flock of rare breed Whitefaced Dartmoor sheep now proudly graze the land around us, and the lambing barn welcomed its first births with visiting children. Our new herd of rare breed Devon cattle produced two healthy heifer calves, marking another milestone. Our commitment to environmental conservation is further evidenced by our partnerships with organizations like The Devon Wildlife Trust and The Woodland Trust. This year, we initiated the hay meadow creation project, spreading seeds in the hope of nurturing a flourishing ecosystem. Our livestock, including rare breed Large Black pigs, poultry, and equine, have thrived under the care of our dedicated team and visiting
23
young peop le completed the residential el of their Gol ement dD Edinburgh uke of Award
children. The addition of Derek the donkey from the Donkey Sanctuary has brought joy and companionship to the farm. Cooking sessions have been particularly popular, resulting in the production of an impressive 1,150 pasties throughout the year. Each regular pasty uses ingredients which are all sourced from Nethercott. Our beekeeping sessions have flourished thanks to the expertise and generosity of the Okehampton Beekeepers. Duke of Edinburgh students played a pivotal role in building a dedicated bee shed, complete with an observation hive, setting the stage for future learning.
Open Garden, showcasing the beautiful walled garden and the hard work invested by the team and children since the pandemic. Notably, our apple and pear cordons have finally met at the top of the arch after five years of meticulous pruning. In conclusion, the past year at Nethercott House has been marked by diversity, community building, environmental stewardship, and engaging learning experiences. We are immensely proud of our accomplishments and look forward to another year of growth, learning, and positive impact. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our success and joined us on this incredible journey.
In August, our dedicated garden volunteers joined us in welcoming the public to our
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URGENT
FUNDRAISING MOWER APPEAL Farms for City Children’s three farms, Nethercott House, Wick Court and Lower Treginnis are busy, bustling, working farms. Each farm works tirelessly to ensure that they are ready for the children and young people who visit them, and to do this we often need to replace equipment essential for their upkeep.
THE NEED Lower Treginnis covers an extensive area and keeping on top of the grass cutting is a major undertaking. Our previous lawn mower was reliable and worked well beyond its life expectancy (as the picture shows!), but it saw its last mow just before the farm opened its doors for the new school term this September. We are looking to replace the mower with a bigger more professional machine, providing us with years of trouble-free mowing. To do this we need to raise £7,299.
HOW YOUR DONATION WILL MAKE A DIFFERENC
E
By donating to our mower appeal, you will not only enable us to ensure our beautiful farm is ready to inspire the next generation, but you will also help us to focus our other fundraising efforts on ensuring more young people can visit our farm in the year ahead.
R CAMPAIGN HOW TO DONATE TO OUR MOWE If you would like to donate, please scan the QR code to be directed to our donations page. To ensure your donation goes to the appeal, state ‘Mower’ when you are asked to leave a message. If you would prefer to donate via cheque, please complete the enclosed form and send your donation to Mower Appeal, Farms for City Children, Huxham Barns, Exeter, EX5 4EJ Should we raise more money than required for the mower (£7,299 at the time of writing), additional funds will contribute to our core costs as a charity, helping to ensure we can continue to deliver life-transforming experiences for our visitors.
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OR THANK YOUOFRT! YOUR SUPP
OUR IMPACT
3,326 children and young beneficiaries reached
70%
of our young beneficiaries were from major urban areas
59% of visits were made by schools from the
30%
most deprived neighbourhoods in England and Wales
This Autumn we have created a highlight report, showcasing our impact in the past year. See below for a taster of the difference we have made.
620
adult beneficiaries reached
90%
of children and young people were more active on the farm than at home
88%
made new friends or got to know their friends better
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FARM NEWS Lower Treginnis Farm has been a hub of activity this summer, reflecting the ever-changing rhythms of the seasons and the farm community. From the excitement of children planting pumpkins, to Vicki’s engaging craft sessions and Fiona’s coastal walks, not forgetting the thriving livestock and vibrant flower tunnel. The farm has been a dynamic tapestry of experiences. The farm buzzed with the energy of visiting children who eagerly put their hands in the earth planting a thousand pumpkins. Their enthusiasm as they nurtured each seed mirrored the natural cycle of growth that Lower Treginnis Farm embodies. Vicki, with her creative flair, led engaging craft sessions that brought out the artist in everyone, and Fiona, our coastal guide, introduced us to the wonders of the shoreline, from playful porpoises to expectant seals, these coastal walks provide insights into the beauty and fragility of marine life.
Adding to the farm’s charm, the cut flower tunnel flourished with the collective effort of our young farmers from all over the country. The harvested flowers not only added colour to the surroundings, but also symbolised the harmony of working together towards a common goal. Amid all the activities, the farm’s animals thrived under the attentive care of our dedicated team. From contented goats to the cheerful sounds of pigs and sheep, the animals embodied the farm’s vitality and connection to nature. Now as the seasons shift and we move into the autumn Lower Treginnis Farm continues to be a place of growth and transformation, with the thousand pumpkins ripening in time for Halloween. We’re also reminded that it’s never too early to think of the holiday season, especially with animals – this summer we also had a successful hatch of turkeys which proved very popular with our visiting children getting to experience holding a chick for the very first time.
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F L E S R U O Y E G CHALLEN IN 2024
Are you looking to set yourself a personal challenge in 2024? Shannon Izod is one such supporter who recently took on the Three Peaks Challenge for Farms for City Children.
Why did you decide to take on the Three Peaks Challenge for Farms for City Children? When I heard of it, it sounded like a big challenge. It was just after New Year, and I wanted to do something impactful, and I decided to take it on with some of the girls from my rugby club. It was a once in a lifetime thing. I chose to do it for Farms for City Children as I know a lot about the charity, and I wanted to raise money for a cause close to my heart. What was the best thing about the challenge? Finishing it! From start to finish it was really challenging. The views, when you could see, were beautiful too, despite the mist at the top! What would you say to someone else who is thinking of taking on a challenge for Farms for City Children? Just do it. Charity Challenge were brilliant they were motivating and so well organised. I am now looking to my next challenge!
Will YOU take on a challenge in 2024? Farms for City Children have signed up with Charity Challenge, providing you with the opportunity to take part in some exciting challenges while raising funds for the charity. If you are interested in taking part in a challenge and raising funds for Farms for City Children, please contact fundraising@farmsforcitychildren.org. You can also scan the QR code to take a look at the Charity Challenge website and the range of challenges on offer.
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SUPPORTERS Without our supporters we would not have been able to reach over 3,000 young people in the past year. Thank you to every individual, company, trust and foundation who has given so generously. See below for a few examples of how people are helping us to share the muck and magic.
The John Horseman Trust
Tyler Grange
This year, for the first time, The John Horseman Trust, supported a whole school’s visit. The school they chose to support stayed at Wick Court in April. Tracy, one of our fundraisers, welcomed the trust’s Grants Manager, Sarah, for a tour of the farm, to see their grant ‘in action’. Tracy and Sarah were encouraged by Stevie our Farm School Manager to join in a bee keeping session with the children – needless to say it was fascinating, and they had as much fun as the children did!
Tyler Grange, a company who provide aboricultural, ecology and landscaping support, continue their fantastic support of Farms for City Children by providing their valued time to Wick Court each month. Taking part in orchard work, painting, moving animals, gardening, repairing sheds, their hard work is an amazing support to the farm.
Texel Foundation A grant from the Texel Foundation will enable some of the country’s most under-served children to have a farm residential and many first-time experiences this academic year. We are delighted to be working with the Foundation which strongly believes that providing opportunities realises the potential in people.
Westminster Grosvenor We were delighted to embark upon a partnership with Grosvenor and The Westminster Foundation to support beneficiaries from the London Borough of Westminster and Liverpool through the Greener Futures Fund. We are delighted that the grant has already enabled us to support 88 beneficiaries from these areas.
Volunteer - Pat Brown Pat has been volunteering at Nethercott House and Wick Court for a number of years – setting up the apiaries, bringing bees, sourcing suits and gloves, and even training the farm teams in all things bees. Without her, the children who visit would not get the opportunity to take part in beekeeping and learn about their importance within our ecosystem, as well as having the option of making honey. Thank you for all you have done Pat; you are very much part of the Farms for City Children team.
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FARM NEWS
This summer, there has been plenty to celebrate at Wick Court, with the 25th anniversary of Farms for City Children at the farm and also being awarded the Runner Up prize in the School Farms Network - Most Inspirational Educational Farm or Garden 2023.
care system, with their carers, for a day visit through Gloucestershire Virtual School.
Over the summer holidays a diverse range of visitors got to find out what make us inspirational as we hosted two of our regular primary schools and three community groups and worked with children and families in the
Then in July, we celebrated 25 years of the charity at Wick Court and the children of Marsh Hill Primary School, Walsall, hosted special guests at a tea party with music, cake, and games.
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In June we successfully opened the gates of the farm to the public as part of Open Farm Sunday and welcomed over 400 people. We offered children’s trails and activities, tours of the house and farm, sheep shearing demonstrations and storytelling, and offered freshly made food in our pop-up café.
We also hosted the annual general meeting of the British Grassland Society alongside our partner farmer, and have developed a strong partnership with St James City Farm in central Gloucester, who are doing some innovative community and farming initiatives in one of the most economically deprived parts of the city. Meanwhile, we have developed the house and educational facilities and have been replastering and painting the house, repairing the moat, animal pens, and taking down a barn. We have fundraised for a new tractor and refurbished our Apple Pressing room just in time for juicing season. The fruit trees and bushes are already being productive, and we have started harvesting fruit, which has been slightly earlier this year.
the orchards and gardens, producing jams and chutneys to sell throughout the year. We have formed a new relationship within the community, now supplying the The Great Plate CIC with one pig a month. In addition, the ongoing successful breeding of our sows who continue to produce litters of Gloucester Old Spot piglets, bring such joy to so many visiting groups, and we have also calved one new rare heritage breed Gloucester calf and 46 chicks have hatched. We continue to have the ongoing support of nine weekly volunteers, to whom we are incredibly grateful, and have also hosted seven weeks of work experience. Our corporate supporters Tyler Grange visit us every other month and have enabled us to improve our bee shed and repaint our chick room in time for the children’s return in September.
In the kitchen, the team have worked hard to preserve the glut of fruit and vegetables from
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS CHRISTMAS If you would like to make a purchase, please complete the enclosed form or visit our website: farmsforcitychildren.org/our-shop.
OUR SHOP Products
Price
Christmas Card - West of England Geese
£6.00
This year’s Christmas card has been designed by Charlotte Whatmore. 10 cards with envelopes per pack
£6.00
FFCC Seasonal Tree Decoration A round environmentally friendly bamboo bauble engraved with Christmas Greetings from FFCC to you. For use on your tree year on year. (72x92mm)
FFCC Playing Cards Our Farms for City Children playing cards feature some of our favourite Quentin Blake illustrations. Cards are standard poker sized, professional grade, plastic coated and come in a laminated card box. Sold per pack.
£6.00
FFCC Jute Bags These handy little shoppers can hold six bottles, a small shop or a large packed lunch! The options are endless. They all feature the Quentin Blake Goose Girl illustration on one side.
£6.00
Driftwood Keyrings Stocking fillers not land fillers! Made from natural driftwood and created to last a lifetime.
£3.50
Farms for City Children in collaboration with Springers Cottage Soaps Handmade in Devon by our passionate artisan soaper. Choose from three delectable scents: O range & Frankincense An aroma of zesty orange with a spicy edge of Frankincense. A wintery scent to indulge our skin with. Made from natural oils and butters.
£5.00
L avender Herb Garden A wonderful combination of sweet floral, zesty citrus and herbal scents creating a soap that uplifts and refreshes. A soap that brings the garden parfums inside… Includes Beeswax
£5.00
S erenity Made from natural oils and shea butter which harmonises our senses with the scents of Bergamot, Ylang Ylang and a touch of Patchouli. Skin kind for hands & body.
£5.00
Recycled Notebooks With Pens
£3.00
These handy little jotters are made from recycled materials - handy for list making and note taking.
Remember to include the cost of your Postage and Packaging!
If you would like to make a purchase, please complete the enclosed form.
www.farmsforcitychildren.org Registered Charity Number 325120
£4.00