A Positive Start to 2025
2025 has kicked off with positive energy at Jamie’s Farm Waterloo, with four fantastic groups completing our six-week programme this month: Haringey Learning Partnership, Oasis Academy South Bank, King Solomon Academy, and Kensington Aldridge Academy (both in partnership with AllChild). Despite the challenges of cold, wet weather, we’ve been incredibly impressed by the resilience of our young people, who have embraced the outdoor farm activities with enthusiasm and very few complaints.
Creative Focus in the Cold
The winter weather has encouraged a focus on art and craft work, offering students a creative outlet where their confidence has soared. It’s been wonderful seeing their pieces proudly displayed on the walls. As one student put it: “Da Vinci has got nothing on me!”
Farm Happenings: Hens & Winter Crops
Our three hens from Jamie’s Farm Bath have continued to provide us with eggs throughout the winter, while our other three hens are taking their seasonal break. After some winter moulting, the chickens are now looking fabulous with their new feathers. In the garden, we’ve planted winter salad varieties such as mizuna, mustard, and mibuna, and we’ve been covering the vegetable beds with compost and a good layer of leaves to nourish the soil and prevent weeds ahead of spring planting.
Warm Words from Haringey Learning Partnership
We were also thrilled to welcome back young people from Haringey Learning Partnership before Christmas after their half-term break. The feedback from their lead staff member was heart-warming:
“S, M, and A got so much out of it, and we really got to see them thrive in a comfortable, welcoming and warm setting with you both. Apologies for lingering around so long over the lunch table, with your lovely cups of tea. We had a long moment of what I think the Danes call ‘hygge’ – everything was perfect, cosy, not too much, not too little. Just perfect.”
We’re looking forward to more wonderful moments with the young people we work with as we continue to build resilience, creativity, and connection in 2025!
