LEAF OPEN FARM SUNDAY – June 8th at Home Farm, Thorncombe

Open Farm Sunday is at Home Farm, Sadborrow, Thorncombe TA20 4PW by the kind permission of farmers Sophie and Tom Gregory

Hosted by: Melplash Agricultural Society with Discover Farming and the Marshwood Vale Farmers Cluster

Timing: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Entrance: FREE

Home Farm is farmed by Sophie and Tom Gregory. It is an organic dairy farm with just under 1,000 acres in the Dorset countryside. The farm consists of 360 dairy cows. They follow regenerative farming principles.

Headline activities:

Watch cows being milked and learn about how they are cared for (foot trimming demonstration at 2pm)
Tractor rides around the farm with key stopping points – vets, cow health and nutrition , bees, haymaking
The Discover Farming Barn where children get hands-on experience of different farm-to- food activities.
A selection of old and new tractors plus other farm machinery to explore
Livestock area with calves, sheep, pigs and chickens
Sawmill – log sawing and examples of different trees to be identified
Interactive displays from Dorset organisations such as Wessex Water and AHDB
Wildlife displays including including butterflies and moths
Free samples from the producers Arla and Yeo Valley who use Home Farm milk

Facilities

Plenty of car parking space
Picnic Area
Local food & drink refreshments
Toilets at key points with an accessible one at the car park
The activities will be under cover.

Testimonials

…the best day ever!

We have lots to follow up in the classroom.

KS1 Charmouth

I liked the chickens best their feathers were so soft.

KS1 Charmouth

Great day

Great day which engaged all learners.

Salway Ash C of E Primary

The children all had a great day and are still talking about their trip.

Salway Ash C of E Primary

Greenford C of E Primary

Thank you for a lovely day. My TA said it was the best trip she had been on. The activities were just right and we so lucky with the weather.

Greenford C of E Primary

Symondsbury gardeners

I’m not keen on courgettes but I gave them a go!

Symondsbury gardeners

Salway Ash CofE Primary

I learnt that when a chick hatches it takes approximately 24 hours and it is called unzipping!

Salway Ash C of E Primary

St Michael’s Lyme Regis

We had a really wonderful day! Visiting Washingpool Farm allowed the children to experience a working farm in action. Throughout the visit, the children met a variety of animals and learnt about farm machinery. They developed an understanding of the farming seasons and how the animals vary. It would be really interesting to visit the farm again during the spring/summer months to compare. Thank you so much for leading the day and helping the children to have a REAL farm experience!

St Michael’s Lyme Regis