Tag: events

Lambing Day this year at Woodlands Farm is on Sunday 12th April, the culmination of a busy time at the farm. The first lamb of 2015 was born on 23rd March and since then about a third of the 50 ewes have given birth, aided where necessary by the farm’s lambing-trained volunteers.

Maureen from the farm wrote with details of Lambing Day:

All are welcome at the Woodlands Farm Trust Lambing Day on Sunday 12 April 2015, from 11am-4.30pm. Come and see our new-born lambs, and enjoy the chance to buy quality local produce at reasonable prices, including home-made preserves, cakes and honey.  Relax in our café, enjoy the treasure hunt or get involved in craft activities. Entry is £1 for adults and 50p for children, all proceeds from entry charges and our stalls go towards keeping Woodlands Farm here as a conservation project and valuable resource for the community. A great family day out!

Considering the farm’s events are also all organised by volunteers their annual cycle of shows is very impressive, and all of them enjoyable.

Woodlands Farm‘s Easter holiday activities for children include a craft day, a guided farm tour and an Easter trail. Hannah, the Education Officer, sent me the details:

Easter Holiday Activities 2015
Tuesday 31st March 10am-12pm Craft Day!
Come along for the morning to design and decorate your own item to take home.  Choose between photo frames, money boxes and lots more. Prices between £3- £5 per child depending what you make.  No need to book just drop in.
Wednesday 1st April 10am, 12pm and 2pm Guided Farm Tour
Want to find out more about our animals and visit our new born lambs?  Then come along for a guided farm tour to find out what it takes to look after our animals.  Booking is essential, to book call 020 8319 8900.  £1 per person.
Thursday 2nd April 10am-2pm Egg-cellent Easter Trail
Drop in for our annual Easter trail with a twist.  We all know that chickens lay eggs but what other animals in the world also lay eggs?  Find all the hidden animals and you will get your own chocolate egg to take home.  £2 per child.  No need to book, just drop in anytime between 10am and 2pm.
For more information, see our website or contact Hannah Forshaw on education@thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

While down on the farm, take the opportunity to visit the refurbished dipping pond which was opened by the Mayors of Greenwich and Bexley last Friday. Work on the pond was funded by a grant from HSBC and volunteers from the bank helped to clear the old pond which was very overgrown. Most of the rest of the refurbishment was done by the farm’s regular volunteers. The Bexley Wildlife web site has more about the official opening including photographs of the event.

You may also be able to see Rufus, the farm’s visiting boar, provided he hasn’t succeeded in his task of getting the two sows pregnant, and the first lamb of the season which was born yesterday. There will be many more lambs before Lambing Day at the farm on Sunday 12 April 2015.

Hannah, the Education Officer at Woodlands Farm, sent details of their February half term events for children:

Wednesday 18th February
A Stickman Adventure
10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm
Join stickman on an adventure round Woodlands Farm.  Inspired by Julia Donaldson’s book we will be heading out for an adventure as well as creating your own stickman to take home.  £3 per child.  Booking is essential, to book call 020 8319 8900.
Thursday 19th February
Welly Wander
1pm-3pm
Put on your wellies and head down to Woodlands Farm for an afternoon fun.  Explore the farm with our welly trail.  Can you find all the hidden wellies round the farm as well as a puddle or two to splash in? £1 per child
No need to book, just drop in anytime between 1and 3pm.
Friday 20th February
Get Wild in the Woods
11am – 1pm and 2pm-4pm
Come and join us in the woods as we learn how to survive in the wild. Have a go at shelter building, wild cooking over a fire and learn what animals need to survive. £3 per child
Age 7+  Booking essential, to book call 020 8319 8900
For more information, see our website or contact Hannah Forshaw on education@thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

Woodlands Farm is located on the borders of the London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich.  At 89 acres, it is the largest city farm in the UK.  Our priorities are education and conservation, and we are part of the Natural England Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.  Our education programme attracts visitors from pre-school to third-age groups.  The Trust aims to involve local community groups, schools, volunteers and businesses in farming and conservation, helping to bridge the current town-country divide.
We are open 9.30am-4.30pm, Tuesday-Sunday (except Christmas Day).  There is no entry charge except for special events, though donations are always welcome.
Nearest tube: North Greenwich
Nearest BR: Welling
Buses: 486 and 89
We are a farm so sensible shoes and clothing are recommended!  We do allow dogs, but please note that these must be kept on a lead and not taken into any farm buildings.

The pregnant ewes at the farm have now been brought in to the barns in preparation for having their lambs. There’ll be a chance to see the new lambs at the farm’s Lambing Day on Sunday 12th April.

If you’d like to escape from the pre-Christmas hectivity and get some fresh air and exercise, then head for Woodlands Farm at 10.00am on Sunday for a walk around the parts of the 89 acre farm that visitors don’t usually get to see. This is one of a series of monthly guided walks at Woodlands: Hannah, the Farm’s Education Officer e-mailed details:

Monthly walks at Woodlands Farm
Most people who visit Woodlands Farm don’t get much further than our farmyard, however there are a further 85 acres of wonderful London countryside, wood, hedges and meadows, to explore.
So join us for our monthly guided walks around the farm in all seasons and all weathers. Our walks will highlight seasonal farm activities such as hedging, lambing, the history of the farm and how it works.
Meet at the Green Education building at 10 am. The walk will take about two hours. Please wear stout footwear and appropriate clothing for a winter walk. As we will be going through the fields we regret that the walk is not suitable for buggies or those with restricted mobility.  In the event of bad weather the walks will be cancelled.  The walks are free, but we appreciate any donations.  Although you do not need to book if you would like to let us know you will be attending or have any questions please call 020 8319 8900.
Sunday’s, 16 November – Autumn Walk
Sunday 21 December – Winter Solstice Walk,   On our solstice walk there will be a seasonal hot drink at the end.
Sunday 18 January – Winter Walk,
Sunday 15 February – Valentine’s Walk;
Sunday 22 March – Spring Equinox and spot the first lambs;
Sunday 19 April – Young Shoots
So get those boots out, dust them off and come to join us.
Woodlands Farm is located on the borders of the London boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich.  At 89 acres, it is the largest city farm in the UK.  Our priorities are education and conservation, and we are part of the Natural England Higher Level Stewardship Scheme.  Our education programme attracts visitors from pre-school to third-age groups.  The Trust aims to involve local community groups, schools, volunteers and businesses in farming and conservation, helping to bridge the current town-country divide.
We are open 9.30am-4.30pm, Tuesday-Sunday (except Christmas Day).  There is no entry charge except for special events, though donations are always welcome.

And as an extra bonus on Sunday the walk will finish with a glass of mulled wine.