Inspiring Tomorrow’s Farmers: A Day at Woodlands Farm, Bradford Estates
In a bid to nurture a love for agriculture and forestry among the younger generation, approximately 140 eager-eyed children embarked on an educational journey to Woodlands Farm in Weston-under-Lizard, courtesy of the dedicated team at Bradford Estates.
The enthusiastic participants, consisting of year four students from Woden Primary School and Christ Church Junior School, both situated in Wolverhampton, along with 15 pupils spanning years three to six from Chuckery Primary School in Walsall, were treated to an immersive experience – the inaugural event of its kind hosted by the esteemed business.
Bradford Estates, stewards of an expansive 12,000-acre domain straddling the Shropshire and Staffordshire borders, presented an array of engaging sessions. Topics ranged from the intricacies of forestry and soil management to the art of farming, wildflower propagation, and the care of their cherished ovine residents.
The Managing Director, Alexander Newport, extended a warm welcome to the young visitors. They were granted exclusive access to the esteemed Bradford Sheep flock, guided by the expertise of partner shepherd Alec Hough, who oversees the well-being of these creatures on behalf of Bradford Estates.
A diverse array of enlightening sessions unfolded throughout the day. Nick Birkinshaw, representing wholesale native wildflower supplier Bradford Green, shed light on the integration of robotics in seed production. Tom Roberts, the Senior Harvesting & Operations Manager at Bronwin & Abbey, showcased the marvels of forestry machinery. Ed Brown, Agronomist at Hutchinsons, provided valuable insights into the realm of soil conservation.
The Farms Director, Oliver Scott, and his adept team unveiled an array of vehicles essential to modern farming. Each visitor, wide-eyed and eager, had the privilege of occupying the driver’s seat of a tractor – an experience that left an indelible mark.
Lindsay Godfrey, Assistant Headteacher at Woden Primary, voiced her enthusiasm, remarking, “The visit was a fantastic opportunity for our children to experience the countryside in a new way. They took so much from the visit as it allowed them to see farming first hand.”
This enlightening event was made possible through a collaborative effort with the esteemed educational charity, Countryside Learning. Their mission, to “educate, inform, and inspire” children about the joys of the countryside while fostering a deeper understanding of the multifaceted issues surrounding it, was manifest throughout the day.
Barbara Brannigan, the Events Manager, elaborated, “Our ethos is to get young people into the countryside to nurture a love of nature. Kindling their interest so they respect and care about the environment, whilst experiencing the mental and physical health benefits of being in the great outdoors.”
She further emphasized the importance of these collaborative events, providing a platform for organizations to unite in engaging children with interactive activities centered around food, farming, and the natural environment. It was indeed a privilege to join forces with the Bradford Estates team for this inaugural visit, which proved to be a resounding success.
Alexander Newport expressed his delight, stating, “We were delighted to host the visit by the three schools to promote the countryside and give them a better understanding of agriculture and silviculture. We are very grateful to all of our partners, as well as the Bradford Estates team, for sharing their knowledge and passion with our guests, who clearly enjoyed the visit and the new experiences we were able to offer.”
This remarkable day at Woodlands Farm stands as a testament to the power of education and hands-on experiences in shaping the minds of future custodians of our agricultural heritage. The seeds sown on this day are bound to yield a harvest of informed and impassioned individuals dedicated to the stewardship of our countryside.
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