Open Farm Sunday

Fordhall Farm is joining in with national Open Farm Sunday on June 1st 11am-4pm. We will be throwing open the farm gates and inviting everbody to see farm life as it really is.

The Farm Trail and Farm Shop will of course be open. But we will also have fun activities for children and a guided walk around the farm during the afternoon. Why not come and see the new calves, piglets, and all the spring lambs. You can even meet farmer Ben!

Tea, coffee and cake will be available throughout the day. All activities are FREE.

WORKING WEEKEND - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Would you like to help make benches for our picnic area on May 31st and June 1st at Fordhall Farm?
Volunteers are needed to help revamp the picnic area before the summer gets into full swing. If you can spare one or both days of the weekend please let Hannah know on 01630 638696 or email project@fordhallfarm.com. The weekends are always great fun and there is the opportunity to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds. You don't have to be practical or skilled, just willing to have a go. The more the merrier.

Update on the Farm Trail Appeal

As mentioned on the blog a few days ago, we are running an appeal to raise funds to help the Farm Trail here at Fordhall Farm. We are pleased to say that it is going really well and we are receiving a large amount of post on a daily basis. Here are some photos of the post that we received on Friday - plus Tracey posing very nicely too!
- Hannah

Forest Schools Project

We are delighted to report that we have been awarded £7,200 by the Forestry Commission for the development of a Forest School site in Castle Hill Wood at Fordhall Farm. Thank you Forestry Commission! This grant will also part-fund the cost of building of a footbridge over the River Tern to allow Buntingdale school, nursery and local families' sustainable and environmentally friendly access to Fordhall Farm. The alternative was to have an unrealistic and far less sustainable bus ride of only a few miles but costing £90 per visit. We must also say a big thank you to all those of you who have sent vital funds to cover the remainder of the bridge cost. We could not do it without you.

Forest School is essentially an outdoor class room which teaches independance, confidence and team work. Helping our children escape from the cotton wool society they now grow up in. Our goal is to raise the profile of Forest School in the Market Drayton area so that local groups will make use of the site either independantly or with support from Helen Howes (FCLI board member and our very own Forest School Leader). If you would like to support this venture or are interested in Forest School yourself please contact the office on 01630 638696.
- Hannah

For more information on Forest Schools see
Forest Education Initiative website

The Farm Trail Appeal

By now many of you will have recieved your letter by now, or maybe seen our appeal on our website......Anyway...We need your help!
The Farm trail is currently in a very sorry state and we desperately need your help to improve it. Fordhall is fast becoming a great educational resource and is now being used on a weekly basis by local schools and on weekends by the general public. It is so nice to see the farm being used by so many people and providing so much enjoyment with it. But, and it is a big but, we are embarrassed by its current state and its desperate need of repair and upgrade.
Any donation however small (or large!) is fantastic. It soon adds up! This can be easily done via Paypal on our website.
A huge thank you must go to all the people that have already donated towards this important cause.
Thank you.
Hannah

Summer Sun at Fordhall Farm

As the sun shines everything comes into blossom at the farm. The trees are bright green, the birds are singing and the swallows are all fighting for those spaces in the barn rafters to nest.

New this week were four baby gloucester old spot piglets (pictured here). A fantastic arrival, although it was a little disappointing to see that mum only had four - pigs will normally have a litter averaging 13. Her last litter of piglets was also small which means after rearing these, mum may have to go to the butcher to make room for another gloucester old spot sow (mother pig).

However, on the brighter side the cows are all calving down well, with many hereford calves now running in the fields. Like most young animals they have a spring in their step and an inquisitive eye that makes them adventure into every corner of the field.

The few lambs that Ben had to hand rear due to the mothers being short on milk after triplets, are also doing well. Now out in the paddocks they have soon learnt how to graze and have enjoyed the many visitors to the farm shop who pop their heads over the fence to say hello.

We hope this summer will be without the worries of Foot and Mouth and Blue Tongue, that our events will be without flooding and most of all we hope you enjoy your visits to the farm this year.

See below for information on our exciting summer events.

Working Weekend at Fordhall Farm

Our next working weekend is fast approaching, so what better way to spend a weekend than helping us to prepare the farm for the approaching summer months and enjoying the hot weather at the same time? Join us on the 31st-1st June 2008 for lots of fun......and a tasty lunch!
If you are interested in this weekend please call me on 01630 638696. Thank you.
Hannah

Don't forget our Summer Play!

Thats right, this summer the story of Fordhall Farm will be told in a fantastically funny play with music. Due to he held outdoors at Fordhall Farm, and Home Farm, Shrewsbury at the end of June and beginning of July, this play is set to make the headlines. Funded through the help of the Arts Council, we hope the 'Arthur's Plough' will help increase awareness of the struggles that rural life brings, but also the possibilities of what can be achieved with community support.

It really brings the story of Fordhall Farm with all its organic heritage and tales of rural living to life. Suitable for anyone wanting an evening of fun and laughter.

To find out more click here OR follow this link to the online farm shop to buy your tickets now.