July Newsletter
Dear supporters,
We have had 63 children visit the farm since our last newsletter, from Robert Clack High School (Daggenham), Sils 3 (Peckham), Abbey Hill School (Stoke on Trent), Bexley Academy (Thamesmead) and Islington Arts and Media School (Islington).
For photographs of these visits click here
Feedback
We asked children what they had learnt during a visit to Jamie’s Farm:
- "I think I can't do things but I can."
- "I can work better in a group, and if I put myself to doing something and focus on it, I can do it."
- "I get on well with other people that I don't know that well. I want to take school more seriously and be more confident."
- "Other people all have ambitions that are really good, I wouldn't normally expect that from other people."
- "Other people were showing their confidence, and at first I was shy and wouldn't tell no one nothing, and I've sort of come out of my egg shell."
- "I can be a better person that I am now"
In the words of their teachers, these children have made huge progress when visiting Jamie’s Farm:
Richard "Prior to visiting, Richard was aggressive, often truanting lessons and arguing with senior staff. The visit has enabled him to show a completely positive side, actively helping wherever possible, praising staff and students, giving help and advice, showing thanks where appropriate. Truly amazing."
Gemma "She is smiling! Gemma is renowned around school for being rather surly and tends to have a lot of attitude towards staff. It has been really rewarding to see her relax and laugh and enjoy herself. She has also talked in depth about her feelings and dreams which is something that I don't think she has had many opportunities to do before."
Steve "At school he is a child with difficulty building relationships with adults and with peers, lacking in confidence and will not communicate easily. The change in just one week...actually after one hour of being at Jamie's Farm was INCREDIBLE!! It was the combination of calm supportive adults who trusted him from the start, the beautiful surroundings and access to so many practical hands on tasks. To see someone like Steve with real drive, passion and an idea of what he would now like to do in his life is a great and powerful thing."
We look forward to reporting on the long term impact that the Jamie's Farm experience has had on these early visitors to our new site in the coming months.
Farm news
We are now pleased to announce that with the help of many children, staff and volunteers the Jamie’s Farm vegetable patch is now up and running. We have build 10 raised beds which will allow us to grow more of own produce and provide many opportunities for visiting children to participate in the growing process. Our next project is going to be a poly tunnel which we hope to have completed by the end of the summer.
Spring and summer have proved to be sunny and dry on Jamie’s Farm, and whilst this has been much appreciated by the students and staff who have visited, the grass has been suffering and we are relieved that the rain is finally falling. Students of Abbey Hill School ably assisted in hay making at Jamie’s Farm. Moving bales of hay is hot, dusty and heavy work but our visiting students, and our team of local volunteers, managed to successfully shift 1350 bales in one day. A great achievement which will see our livestock through the winter months.
We have recently bought two beautiful jersey calves which we are hand rearing so that when they are fully grown these heifers will provide milk and dairy products for the visiting children. We have also added 6 North Country Cheviot ewes to our flock who we will be breeding from next year. Our latest additions to the Jamie’s Farm team are two kittens, Dizzy and Rascal, who are supposed to be farm cats but seem to spend more time cuddling up on people’s laps than chasing mice.
Fundraising and events
Bath Philharmonia’s Concert, Thursday 12thAugust at 7.30pm, Bath Abbey – Conducted by Jason Thonrton with soloist Patricia Rosario, Bath Philarmonia’s concert will feature Debussy’s Claire du Lune, Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne, De Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance and Coplan’s Appalachian Spring. On top of this terrific programme a collection will be held to raise funds for Jamie’s Farm. Tickets can be obtained through the Bath Festival Box Office or through Bath Philhamonia's office 01225-444153 with prices starting at £15 (£5 concessions).
Thanks -Jamie’s Farm would like to thank the Bowland Charitable Trust and the Ray Harris Charitable trust for their recent financial support. Further thanks go to Tim Bowles and his team for raising £600 through his festival, Winstock in June and to Andrew Jutsam and Cat Ambrose at Mott MacDonald for making us their Charity of the Month in May. The ongoing help from all our supporters is much appreciated by us all.
We would also like to say good bye to Jack Leech, who has been part of the team here at Jamie's Farm for the last six months. We are already missing his presence on the farm and have named one of our calves after him as a lasting legacy. Good luck!
Bring a group
If you’re interested in bringing a group to Jamie’s Farm please contact our visit manager, Jane Brinson (jane@jamiesfarm.org.uk). We have just had a cancellation for September so if you would like the opportunity to bring children as a fantastic way of kick starting the yea,r now is your chance to get booked in.
If you are interested in learning more about Jamie’s Farm and would like to attend our next Open Day, please email Jane (jane@jamiesfarm.org.uk) who will be contacting all those who have expressed an interest with dates soon.
All the best,
Everyone at Jamie's Farm
