Farm

Farm

What is it? 

A farm is an area of land primarily devoted to the growth of food and upkeep of livestock. The specific outputs of a farm can very greatly, ranging from dairy products to fish to tobacco - anything that can be grown and cultivated can within reason be farmed. In recent years farms have also become somewhat of a tourist attraction, with many working farms allowing for paying guests to look around and experience how it all works; farm animals are often a popular reason for visits!

What does it involve?

Farms generally involve the careful upkeep of the land and everything on it with the aim of selling on the produce gained at the end of the process. The various techniques and styles of farming will vary depending on the produce, the climate and the farmer, but all involve a lot of planning and care!

Why do it and what are the benefits?

A visit to a farm can introduce students to a lot of new things, especially teaching them how the things they see in the supermarket start out either from the ground or from an animal! It will encourage students to be curious about things around them, and increase respect for the processes necessary to provide us with a lot of the food and materials we take for granted.

What equipment do we need?

Visiting a farm shouldn't require any equipment on your behalf! However, one thing you may wish to consider is ensuring the students are dressed appropriately for the weather/outdoors - check with the venue to see what sort of conditions they advise you dress for. 

Who is it suitable for?

Farms should be suitable for pretty much anyone, but older students may have less interest than those in younger groups for whom interacting with farm animals may still be a novelty! 

Costs?

The costs of accessing a farm are usually reasonably low, with many venues having free entry to encourage people to come and understand just exactly what goes on!

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

As with any activity that could involve animals or machinery, younger students should be supervised at all times! You must also ensure that your group respects the rules of the farm and don't walk on planted areas/feed animals you shouldn't/pick any products you aren't invited to!

How do we include?

As many farms are primarily businesses, they may not be set up for disabled access, but the larger the establishment the more likely they are to cater for disabilites. A farm visit would be a great thing to take people of all capabilties on, so make sure to check out what the venue's set up is ahead of time. 

Doing it abroad?

Foreign farms could be great places to visit! An alternate climate can allow for different plants and animals to thrive, and it would be a good opportunity to see similiarites and differences to farms in the UK.

Main websites:

National Farm Attractions Network

School Farms Network

Countryside Classroom

This webpage also has some great recommendations, but check out individual venue websites to see exactly what they have on. 

Venues with this Activity

Hasty’s Adventure Park occupies five hectares of agricultural and grassland by Clacton Airfield.

Children’s author Michael Morpugo and his wife Clare founded Farms for City Children in 1976. The charity now owns three farms in the west country of which Wick Court is one. We welcome around 3,200 children and 400 teachers a year.

Children’s author Michael Morpugo and his wife Clare founded Farms for City Children in 1976. The charity now owns three farms in the west country of which Wick Court is one. We welcome around 3,200 children and 400 teachers a year.

Nethercott House is a traditional mixed dairy, beef and sheep farm in the heart of Devon..

Children’s author Michael Morpugo and his wife Clare founded Farms for City Children in 1976. The charity now owns three farms in the west country of which Wick Court is one. We welcome around 3,200 children and 400 teachers a year.

Wick Court is a small-scale traditional livestock farm, with sheep, beef cattle, pigs and poultry.

Experience learning in the great outdoors with Magdalen. Magdalen Farm with its diverse landscape, animals and purpose-built residential centre provides a safe and secure environment to learn about organic farming, sustainability and nature.

There's always something going on down on Hatfield Park Farm!

Come along and feed the traditional breeds of sheep and goats - we also have rare Bagot goats as seen on BBC Countryfile at Adam's Farm. There are ducks, geese, turkeys, Hungarian Woolly pigs and cattle too!

Hatfield House is the home of the 7th Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury and their family. The Estate has been in the Cecil family for 400 years. It is an incredible building with a vast estate to explore.

A group visit to Woodside Animal Farm gives you full access to all our daily activities facilities plus some extra special care to make your day unforgettable. For 20 paying people or more we offer a great value day out, which we can tailor to suit your needs.

Starting from just £4 person your school or group will receive:

A family theme park designed to cater for families with children between the age of two and thirteen. All its rides and attractions are designed to offer the whole family a full day out of fun and excitement.

Adventure Land, Toy Land, Discovery Bay and more! All of which combine to keep even the most active of children occupied for a full day.

Glachbeg provides day programmes for schools and other groups using a tool box of resources which include a sustainable classroom, Shetland Cattle, sheep, poultry, small mammals, woodland, ponds, garden, fruit, cheese, butter, yoghurt, ice cream making, spinning, etc etc .

Somerset's top award-winning farm attraction

Now into our 25th year as a family run farm attraction, all the animals and staff at Court Farm are looking forward to welcoming hoards of children and their families for a fun packed summer of fun.

Sitting in the heart of the Cotswolds, Adam Henson's (of Countryfile fame) Cotswold Farm Park has a long-standing reputation for a fun filled day out. Children can interact closely with the animals and learn about farming, past and present.

Restored overshot watermill with threshing machinery and various agricultural artefacts. Set on a working farm. A 10 minute video shows the mill in action. The local history of the area and agriculture is displayed. Craft/souvenir shop. Toilets and tourist information point.

Alyth is a small rural Perthshire village overlooking the countryside of Strathmore. This is an area rich in farming, which is an inspiration and resource for the museum collection.

Enjoy a wealth of pictures and objects reflecting life as it was in and around Alyth.

Unique survival in Northern Europe of a traditional rural dwelling with central hearth and stone

Kirbuster Museum was opened to the public in 1986. It is the last un-restored example of a traditional ‘firehoose’ in Northern Europe. The house has a central hearth and a stone neuk bed, a unique survival. Kirbuster was occupied up until the 1960s and was once the home of the Spence and Hay families.

Corrigall Farm Museum is a traditional ‘but and ben’ house. It portrays a typical Orkney farmhouse and steading in Victorian times - late 19th Century. The working barn and grain kiln, horse-drawn machinery and livestock make for an interesting visit for children and adults.

The Museum of Early Medieval Northumbria at Jarrow. Looks at the life and times of the Venerable Bede (AD 673-735,) one of the greatest scholars of his age.

In 1285 by a Charter of Edward 1st Ashburton became a Stannary Town - one of four in Devon. 

Tin Mining has played a great part in the development of the town as has the Woollen Industry.

Discover the story of the Forest, in the heart of the Forest.

A wide variety of animals for you to look at and feed. There is an outdoor play area for children under 8, a beach to play and build sandcastles for all ages, and an indoor ball pool and soft play for children under 5.

A lovely little range from guinea pigs to micro pigs, via parrots, horses and alpacas.

Has long provided the opportunity to become familiar with the country life of yesteryear. Its Historic Working Farm is a wonderful visitor attraction with daily activities and special events. You will see traditional 19th century farm life unfold daily, while the land around is worked by heavy horses.

Pembrokeshire's County Museum is located in a traditional Victorian country house near Haverfordwest, surrounded by 60 acres of park and woodland and is completed by an award-winning eco-centre.

Period rooms, railway displays, farming exhibition, costume, stable/rural crafts, art exhibitions, World War II homefront exhibition. Picnic and play areas, shop and tearoom.

17th-century house with elegant 18th-century decoration and a traditional farmyard

This charming 17th-century farmhouse, elegantly remodelled in Georgian times, offers fun and relaxation for all the family. Set in 100 acres of countryside, there are apple orchards and charming woodland walks. The atmosphere of a working farmyard has been rekindled with the return of small animals.

Villages and countryside criss-crossed with trails

The Buscot and Coleshill Estates are traditional estates on the edge of Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.  They are made up of 7,000 acres, three villages, 850 acres of woodlands and 12 let farms.

We offer free visits to NT education group members, free teacher visits, an education officer to assist with planning, education volunteers and a covered area for picnics and lunches.

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