Over the last six weeks we have delivered our final on-farm school sessions for 2024, with two visits to Broad Oak Farm in Bramfield and one to Porters Farm in Walpole.
Both Wenhaston and Ilketshall St Lawrence Primary schools joined Mark and Amanda at Broad Oak Farm with the brilliant support of our project ecologist, Fe Morris. The pupils got to enjoy a host of activities, from the journey that Wheat goes on from seed all the way through to loaf, tree seed collection, preparations and propagation, to stepping back in time to explore Suffolk pond history and the diversity of life in the farm’s ponds.
‘This has been the best session so far – I loved finding the tree seeds. We all helped today, and now there will be 48 new Oaks to help the land.’ Wenhaston pupil.
Edgar Sewter Primary, having been to Broad Oak Farm before, visited Porters Farm in Walpole with our Agroecology Educator, Gaina Dunsire, for their final farm visit this year. This session tapped into how tech can play a useful role in modern farming to help create renewable energy, waste management and storing carbon.
Pupils got to delve into a multitude of crops grown on the farm, exploring uses and sensory properties, as well as learning about how the farm uses Biomass boilers and Drones to reduce their carbon footprint.
‘I remember the 3 things plants need to grow – carbon dioxide, water and sunlight. And they can take the carbon and put it in the soil to keep our planet cooler.’ Edgar Sewter pupil.
As sad as it is that this year’s farm visits are finished, we are already making plans for ongoing adventures at our farm venues for next year, where we hope to be able to include the prestigious Wakelyns Agroforestry farm too. And despite our farm trips finishing, we still have 3 more in-school sessions happening in the next month to look back at this year’s work, showcase our film and share the successes with the wider school community.
In other news, we are over the moon to share that we have been successful in receiving some much needed funding from East Suffolk Council’s Enabling Communities fund as well as Suffolk Community Foundation’ s Axter Climate & Community grant making programme. This vital financial support will enable us to reach more children in our community.
