Educational Access News & Events
Upper Moreton Farm Rural Project
Upper Moreton Farm Rural Project has been working with a group of people
who have mental health and emotional well being needs. The project aims were to
move people closer to employment. We recognise that the journey for each person
will be different.
The project is into its tenth week and is already benefiting many of its users. People
are engaged with animal husbandry, horticulture, conservation, cookery, rural crafts
and art.
Grooming the donkey foal "Toby"
There is a large vegetable and flower garden where people are encouraged
to grow their own vegetables. Strawberry jam and vegetable soup
have been some of the items made by the group, with the majority of ingredients
from the garden.
Tending to the flower border
There have been several nature walks where many different
butterflies and moths namely Ringlets, Meadow Blues and Meadow Browns
have been identified. The group has made bee homes, bird boxes and beetle
homes out of logs.
Looking for butterflies and moths in the wildflower meadow
Some of the other projects have involved making benches for the garden,
hen arcs and picnic tables. Several of our people have enjoyed doing "barge art"
painting.
Artist at work!
Upper Moreton Farm is working to aid people's well being through rural
therapeutic activities. Opportunities like Upper Moreton Farm play an invaluable
part in people's recovery pathway. At the end of the twelve week project the
distance travelled will be different for each individual, but the outcomes reached
will have hopefully a positive impact on their well being. While this is a time limited
project it is hoped that it will have an impact for further personal growth.
The Clifford Project from Stone
Friday 30th July 2010
A small group of six learners and three staff came to see
all that was going on at the farm.
Everyone got to meet all the animals which ranged from
rare breed Gloucester cattle, Longhorn cattle, pigs, goats,
turkeys, chickens. ducks and not forgetting the donkeys.
Working on cleaning out the piglets and donkeys
Letting out the chickens
Making a salad box for cut and come again lettuce
The visit was aimed at educating young people about farming
and growing. Salad boxes were planted up with ever lasting salad leaves
(seeds) so that everyone could take one home to enjoy the benefits of eating
fresh vegetables.
Mums and Toddlers Visit Upper Moreton Farm
Friday 23rd July 2010
Making clay plagues using natural materials found
round the farm
A group of mums and toddlers enjoyed an afternoon looking
at the farm animals and collecting leaves, bark, wheat and flowers
on a farm walk.
The materials were used to make impressions into a clay plague
which will then be fired in the pottery at the Oak Tree Farm Rural Project.
The plagues will then be ready for painting.
Follow this story to see the finished results....
Making impressions into the clay using flowers, crab apples and feathers
from the farm's bronze turkeys
Dads, Sons and Daughters Visit Upper Moreton Farm
Saturday 24th July 2010
A group of 24 dads and children came to Upper Moreton Farm
for a farm educational visit.
The group was split into two groups, one doing farm activities which
ranged from cleaning out piglets, feeding goats, collecting eggs and
a butterfly/moth count in the wildflower fields.
The other group participated in angling on the farm's stock pool. Everyone
caught lots of fish which ranged from carp, tench, roach and gudgeon.
The groups changed over after having lunch.
Bedding up the piglet shed and emptying the wheelbarrow
What the Butterfly Count has to say...
The big butterfly count is a nationwide survey aimed at helping us assess the
health of our environment.
Why count butterflies?
The survey is being launched during 2010 to mark the International Year of Biodiversity.
Butterflies react very quickly to change in their environment which makes them excellent
biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for other wildlife losses.
That’s why counting butterflies can be described as taking the pulse of nature.
The count will also identify trends in species that will help us plan how to protect
butterflies from extinction as well as understand the effect of climate change on wildlife.
How to take part
Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny) weather
from 24th July to 1st August. We have chosen this time of year because most
butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle, so more likely to be seen. Records
are welcome from anywhere: from parks and gardens, to fields and forests.
If you are counting from a fixed position in your garden, count the maximum number
of each species that you can see at a single time. For example, if you see three Red
Admirals together on a buddleia bush then record it as 3, but if you only see one at
a time then record it as 1 (even if you saw one on several occasions) – this is so that
you don’t count the same butterfly more than once . If you are doing your count on
a walk, then simply total up the number of each butterfly species that you see during
the 15 minutes.
You can submit separate records for different dates, and for different places that you
visit. Remember that your count is useful even if you do not see any butterflies or moths.
You can only send in your sightings online at www.bigbutterflycount.org. Unfortunately,
we cannot accept any counts sent in on paper or by email, text or phone. Anyone can
take part, young or old, but if you are under 16 you’ll need a parent or guardian to assist
when you submit your count online. The website will be open to receive records
throughout July and August.
Walking along the hedgerows looking for butterflies and moths
A Ringlet butterfly A Gate Keeper or Hedge Brown
The Great Staffordshire Picnic 14th July 2010
Carol Carney with pupils from St Edwards School Leek with their award for 1st Prize
in the Notice Board Section
Food is never far from the news these days and is certainly exercising
the minds of politicians, health professionals, supermarkets and
environmentalists as they address the issues of growing obesity,
junk food, sustainability and “food miles”.
An exciting two-year initiative has been launched to change young
people’s attitudes to healthy eating and lifestyle choices by
increasing their knowledge of local food and food producers.
“The Great Staffordshire Picnic”, funded by Local Food, a new
funding programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund and
Advantage West Midlands, has and will involve over 300 young
people aged 11 to 13 from fourteen schools in a food challenge
managed by the Staffordshire Partnership (an organisation which
fosters links between schools and industry and commerce).
The challenge facing the youngsters was to plan, source and make
a nutritional picnic dish using local products ”from farm to fork”.
This will involve visiting food producers to see at first hand the
techniques, processes and sustainable challenges of land
management and food production as they design and create their
dishes, which will take account of the county’s cultural diversity.
Upper Moreton Farm was host to three of the schools, where
children learned all about farming, food production and the
environment.
For the food producers, the scheme will enable them to have
close contact with the next generation of consumers, who will
gain direct knowledge of the many issues involved in sourcing
and integrating healthy ingredients into the food they cook
and eat.
The challenge will culminate in “The Great Staffordshire Picnic”
which was held at Shugborough Hall on 14th July, where the
young people, parents and producers attended to celebrate and
showcase their achievements.