Christmas wishes to everyone

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM FORDHALL

Well 2009 has been another fantastic year for Fordhall. Despite the recession the farm shop has remained busy and the Fordhall Community Land Initiative (FCLI) has received over 6000 visitors at its events.

George (our resident cade lamb) has entertained us a lot this year, whether he was trying to help in the office or even help Ben with Christmas orders - of which there were many, infact double last year. Of course this was extremely positive, but it also resulted in a lot of stress for Ben and his team (Chris, Steve, Hugo, Dale, Josh, Kevin, Charlotte) as they gathered boxes, three bird roasts, gammons and turkeys, carefully checking to ensure that every customer received the correct order!


Simultaneously, work on the farmhouse roof continues.... It was supposed to be complete by the end of the year, but as you'd expect with old buildings more problems were uncovered as we went along. There is one final roof on the right of the house to repair which we hope this will be complete early in the New Year.

The photo on the right shows the roof earlier this week. Thankfully all the tiles are now on and we are watertight for the Christmas break (we hope). No insulation yet, but we are hopeful that it is not too far away.

We would like to again pass on a big thank you to all who have supported us through 2009. Whether it be through the farm shop, the FCLI's events or our appeals (such as the roof appeal). It is only through your support that we are here today. Thank you for choosing to buy local and for choosing to be part of 'your' farm.

We hope that you will continue to be part of Fordhall Farm through 2010 as Ben continues to build up the farm and his catrering enterprise, and as the community trust continues to develop the farm as a community and educational asset. We will also begin to develop our old farm buildings (The Old Dairy) into a classroom, office space, tearoom and a new farm shop and butchery for Ben. It will be an exciting year with a lot to organise, but we are sure it will all be worth it.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2010 and sharing the journey with you all.

Charlotte, Ben and George :-)

Calendars now REDUCED just £8! Merry Christmas!

Well, this is my last blog of 2009 so I'm signing off and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Just to let you know that the Fordhall 2010 calendars have now been reduced to just £8 - perfect for those last minute stocking fillers! These can be purchased in the Fordhall Farm shop!

See you in 2010.

Hannah

Fordhall office staff venture outdoors...

Yes thats right, Charlotte (FCLI Manager), Hannah (Community Development Officer, pictured below) and Becca (Admin Officer, pictured above) decided it was time they took a day out of the office to help progress the farm trail. Perhaps the middle of winter was not the best time to do it, but if thats when the work needs doing, thats what has to be done!

The job for the day was helping to complete the boardwalk and we were accompanied by one of our capable volunteers, Steve. We all worked extremely hard, through the cold and into the dark and we were all happy to say that a further 10 metres of boardwalk was laid, making it almost now complete.

Together with the remainder of the improvements on the farm our NEW FARM TRAIL, with the help of some Heritage Lottery funding and the fantastic support of our members, will be open in the Spring of 2010... all very exciting!

Seedy Saturday and a Rumble in the Jumble!

Fordhall hosts it's first ever renewal and recycling event! A jumble sale and a community seed swap!

..........How exciting does that sound?!

We need your help though- Have you got any jumble you could give us? We are looking for clothes, bags, shoes and accessories as well as of course bric a brac, curtains, and linen etc..... We can collect locally or will take collections in the farm shop. Please help us to make a success of this event, we will be very grateful.


Also of course we will be holding our first ever community seed swap which is where you can come along and swap (or just pick up for a small donation) lots of seeds to go home and plant! It's a great chance to get some seeds for 2010 and let other people appreciate what you grow every year!


Please, please put this event in your diaries and tell your friends and family all about it! Please help us to make this event a huge success!

This event takes place at the Beacon Community Centre in Market Drayton on the 6th February 2010 at 10am with all funds raised going towards the ongoing work of the FCLI. To enter costs just 50p!
If you would like us to collect jumble/ seeds please call Hannah on 01630 638696 or email project@fordhallfarm.com.

Hannah

Did you notice our deliberate mistake in the newsletter?!

For everyone that subscribes to our newsletter, did you spot the, ahem DELIBERATE mistake on the future events page?!

Our 2010 Summer Fair and Beer Festival is in fact the 3rd and 4th of JULY (the same weekend that it normally is) not what is printed in the newsletter

Sorry for any confusion!

If of course you don't get the newsletter and would like to subscribe to it please contact Hannah in the office on 01630 638696.

Hannah

The Fordhall 2010 Calendar has arrived!

It's exciting times here in the Fordhall office as the 2010 calendars have arrived! We are really pleased with the calendars this year and hope that they will sell well, we have attached a few of the images that we have used on the calendar.

These are great to hang up in your home and also make fantastic gifts...at the same time as supporting Fordhall and they only cost £10 each!

To purchase a calendar and support Fordhall, please call the office on 01630 638696 for more details. Thank you.
Hannah

Mr Brown invites Fordhall Farm to Number 10.

Yes thats right, Shropshire farmers have been invited to Downing Street! Now, its not often that happens...

Gordon Brown organised a lovely reception at No. 10 last week to celebrate National Social Enterprise Day and as a Flagship Social Enterprise (and if you don't know, that is a business which does NOT work for 'private profit' but reinvests its profit for environmental or social benefit) for the West Midlands the FCLI (Fordhall Farm Community Land Initiative) was invited.

So off Charlotte went, into the big city of London. There were almost 200 other social enterprises squeezed into the main reception room and the fantastic food was also supplied by a Social Enterprise.

The PM said:
“Whatever job an individual is doing for whatever social enterprise in the country, you are doing something very much bigger than simply the task that you are carrying out. You are actually making our country a better, fairer and more successful country.
“You are building communities in this country that, without your help, would not be strong at all. You are making a younger generation see the importance of community solidarity and people working together for the common good.”

Charlotte said "it was a great honour to be invited to Downing Street. Whatever your political view, everyone in the room felt as though they were being truly thanked for the work that they do. It was a very interesting day, as we even got to have a little nosey around the house! It was a real celebration for Social Enterprise and has inspired me to work even harder. Role on 2010”

The Last Working Weekend of 2010

This weekend saw Fordhall Farm's last working weekend of 2009 and what a great weekend it was - plus the weather wasn't too bad either! We had 30 people come along and take part from all over the country - some from as far away as London.
We also had a fantastic bonfire party on Saturday evening and lots of people and enjoyed the fireworks and a Fordhall Sausage bap.
Hannah
The next working weekend is on the 27th-28th February 2010. To book on please email project@fordhallfarm.com

Fordhall Working Weekend - This Weekend!

This weekend Fordhall will host its last working weekend of 2009. Not only that but we have a bonfire party in the evening too.! There are still spaces left so if you want to join in the fun please let me know asap you can call on 01630 638696 or email me on project@fordhallfarm.com

Hannah

P.S - If you don't fancy this weekend then we have lots for you to get involved in in 2010, our first one is in February on the 27th - 28th, dates of the others will be up on the website shortly.

Work on the roof continues

Work continues to gather pace with the farmhouse roof. Most of the front roof is now off and supports are being added where timbers are rotten or cracked. Mike Salt Conservation Builders are working on the project and Rodney Bellamy is our architect keeping a keen eye on everything. Work is steady and we have had a few leaks during the showers but we are still hoping it will be complete by Christmas! Otherwise, it could be a cold one...


Additional works have already been found around the northern chimney stack, where a purlin had been built through its centre! Perhaps not the most fireprrof method of supporting the roof. This chimney stack is now having to be re-built and the purlins supported elsewhere.

Alongside this work, local volunteers, Maude and Jean, have been following progress to help gather and interpret the farms history. Questions which date the roofs and other rooms in the farmhouse are beginning to be answered, whilst new questions simulataneously arise. It is interesting work and we hope it will culminate into an interesting report at the end.

A big thank you must go to Maude and Jean for all the time and effort they are putting into this. But, we musn't forget our lovely architect and builders - keep up the good work chaps.... and please finish for Christmas!