Broxfield Farm hosts farm day experience for school children

During this project, the Northumberland Coast National Landscape has provided 700 school children with a place on a residential trip, beach school session or farm experience day. Generation Green 2 is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its ongoing support of access to nature. 

During their visit to Broxfield Farm, the children were taken on the life cycle of a wheat seed and found out about creatures living in the soil around plant roots. They also met and fed the cows, while learning about how to care for them. After lunch, the afternoon was spent in the woods, creating a wild creature from foraged material, and making a home for this animal.  

Julie Kelly, year five teacher at Whytrig Middle School, said: "The children at Whytrig Middle School loved the experience of visiting Broxfield Farm. Most of them had never been to a working farm before and gained invaluable experience - one that they never would have had the opportunity to if it wasn't for this. It tied in perfectly with our careers week too as the farmer talked not just about his job, but all the processes involved in getting the food from the farm to our plates!" 

Broxfield Farm has offered farm experience days to children for many years. Funding from Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Access Grant has enabled the farm to expand what they offer to schools, and to help children engage with nature and the landscape around them.  

An all-weather tent to use as an outdoor classroom area and a new track through the woodland on the farm have recently been completed. There will be stopping points on the walk with benches and activities to help children engage with nature and the landscape around them. This will enhance the experience, make more of the farm accessible to visitors, and provide sheltered areas. The farm also has plans to start offering bat watching and dark sky sessions.