The first half-term of the academic year at Waterloo has been a busy one, with three schools completing their six-week Jamie’s Farm programme. We welcomed back Phoenix Academy, in partnership with AllChild, alongside EKO Pathways and Archbishop Tenison CofE High School from Croydon. EKO Pathways, a social, emotional, and mental health school in East London, reminded us how impactful working with animals can be for young people. Time spent with the guinea pigs quickly became a regular highlight, helping students settle and relax. Another firm favourite was cooking, with the students taking great pride in serving up their own delicious creations.
We were especially delighted to welcome back a Year 11 student from Archbishop Tenison, who had previously visited the farm in Years 8 and 9. It was wonderful to reconnect and offer them a “booster” experience alongside some new faces that we enjoyed getting to know.
We had the pleasure of Bronny from Jamie’s Farm Monmouth joining us this month to co-facilitate a follow-up visit with four Virtual Schools who had previously stayed at Monmouth: Barnet and Harrow, who visited at Easter, and Brent and Ealing, who came during the summer holidays. The young people were fantastic, and it was lovely to see them reminisce about their time at Jamie’s Farm. They also rolled up their sleeves and got involved with some jobs at Waterloo, including flower planting, cooking, and cleaning animal pens, which brought back fond memories of their week in the countryside.
Animal updates & farm life
Our three lambs, who arrived small and in need of bottle feeding back in April, have now returned to the Bath farm, much larger and ready to enjoy time in the fields. They were a big hit with both volunteers and young people. In their place, we’ve welcomed three new hens, bringing our flock to six. Not only will we have more eggs for cooking, but the new hens are friendly enough to eat out of your hand—a fun bonus for adventurous young people!
One young person reflected on their time at Waterloo, saying, “Being here helped me reconnect with nature. I know there’s parks and things in London, but it’s mainly playground stuff and like, one tree! I liked the work on the farm and working with people I probably wouldn’t have worked with. It was very fun and has definitely been something I look forward to every Thursday.” This reflection really speaks to the value of our farm programme in an urban setting.
Upcoming events: Harvest & Christmas Fayres
We’re excited to host two public events at Waterloo before the end of the year!
- Harvest Festival on Sunday, November 3rd (12 – 3pm): Featuring pumpkin carving workshops (donations welcome), farm squash soup, free children’s crafts, a bonfire, marshmallow toasting, and a bar. Guests are also welcome to explore the gardens and see the animals.
- Christmas Fayre on Saturday, December 7th (12 – 3pm): Including a Christmas market, Santa’s grotto, hearty food and drink, and festive children’s activities.
Both events are free and open to the public—no need to book!