October kicked off with a visit from our long-standing partners, Oasis Academy Shirley Park. Despite some less-than-ideal weather, the young people rolled up their sleeves and helped us build a new ‘dead-hedge’ fence in the pig woods. Their resilience shone through, and they impressed us with thoughtful reflections and meaningful shout-outs during group meetings—a great display of their growth and teamwork.
We were thrilled to welcome Ealing Alternative Provision for their first-ever visit to the farm. There’s always something special about introducing new groups to farm life, and this one didn’t disappoint! The young people fully embraced the experience, and we even squeezed in a special trip to the beach—a first-time adventure for some of them, which made it all the more memorable.
The Brakenhale group brought such a vibrant energy to the farm. They quickly became naturals, showing great care for our animals while helping us prep the farm for winter. Their hard work was matched by plenty of laughter, fun group games, and a wonderful sense of camaraderie, especially around the dinner table.
It was lovely to reconnect with Hillingdon Virtual School for a follow-up visit. Hearing how the group has settled into the new school year was heart-warming, but the highlight was seeing so many of the young people’s carers join in to celebrate the achievements of the week—it felt like a true community moment.
A visit to Heathside is always a pleasure, and this time was no different. We enjoyed sharing their follow-up film, especially the lovely moment when we all got to relive the birth of our dairy calf, Penny. Watching it back brought smiles all around!
We also had a fantastic catch-up with Families Forward, complete with pizza, of course! Looking through photobooks of their time on the farm was a real treat, and it was lovely to reminisce about the animals and farm life together.
Out on the farm
October has been busy in the barns and fields. The majority of our cows are now pregnant, and our breeding ewes are looking strong and ready for the rams. We’re especially grateful to Vanessa, our incredible volunteer, who’s been hard at work in the dairy. Her first batches of butter, yoghurt, and mozzarella have been a big hit, and we can’t wait to share them with our visitors.
A big thank you to Field Food, a local project that donated a place on their fermentation course. We’re excited to pass along the knowledge and recipes to the young people, making the most of our fresh garden produce.
Finally, a warm welcome back to Jenny and Eva, who returned to the farm after a short break from volunteering. Their positive energy and support in the kitchen and with our new groups have been wonderful. We’re so lucky to have them back, helping to keep the farm buzzing with activity and warmth.
