November update from Jamie’s Farm Lewes

We’ve welcomed a huge variety of young people to the Lewes farm over the last month. They have all done a great job out on the farm, sometimes contending with some extremely soggy weather!  We started the month with a visit from Big Leaf, our partners working with Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children. We enjoyed a week of delicious food from everyone’s home countries, a lot of language learning, and lots of music. It is always very special to be able to share our farm with a group of young people from Big Leaf, and this week was no exception. 

Oasis Academy Shirley Park also visited us this month and brought a great group of farmers to work with us. An exciting moment was the sighting by one of the young people of a huge stag out in our woods, as she went for a one-to-one walk with one of our Therapy Coordinators. Moments like this, which can’t be planned, add so much to a young person’s experience of Jamie’s Farm. We were also delighted to welcome a new partner school to the farm this month from Garston Manor School near Watford.  This was a fun-filled and nurturing week, with a lot of love for all the animals out on the farm, and a memorable kitchen disco DJ’ed by one of the young people.  

Last week we had the chance to welcome young people more locally, from East Sussex Virtual School, for a series of day visits. Many of the young people who came to us had been to Jamie’s Farm before, and it is always lovely to see how much they have grown in confidence each time they return.  

On the farm itself, our chickens have been moved to a new special coop where they will spend the winter safe from avian flu, and we have also welcomed a new addition to the flock, Terrence the turkey, who is settling in nicely, (and will be with us well beyond Christmas!).

Sadly, we will soon be bidding a fond farewell to our fabulous Horse Specialist and Lead Housekeeper Andi, who is heading off to a really exciting new role working with young people. Andi has been such a wonderful and valued part of every visit to Jamie’s Farm Lewes, not only making sure that the house is warm and welcoming but also giving young people a wonderful experience with our horses. She will be greatly missed.