What happens at Upper Lodge Farming ProjectWe are able to give students an opportunity to learn and work in a quiet un-crowded environment, taking advantage of how much nature can teach us. The Project provides a very natural space for our students to create and grow things for themselves, undertake specific projects and interact with and care for a wide variety of farm animals.
Our farm, woods and polytunnel allow for the opportunity to discover new interests and develop skills with us using a non-confrontational and practical approach. We encourage literacy and numeracy in tasks and areas of work such as reading seed packets, labeling a plant, measuring beds and plant spacing. Some students will simply want to enjoy gardening or animal care but need practical advice and the opportunity to get started or to progress. We have a practical and positive approach which we hope will enable some students to be supported to move on to community work placements in the future. We rear pigs, sheep, chickens, goats and cattle on the farm, giving the students the opportunity for responsibility and learning to understand how we can care for animals and farm them for food consumption in a natural and stress free environment. Physical activity and mental stimulation can help transform the way in which students expel their energies which might otherwise manifest as negative or anti-social behavior. Individual support needs are taken into consideration and students are all treated as individuals with their diversity celebrated. Upper Lodge Farming Project has something special to offer people with challenging behaviours, young people who struggle in mainstream education and associated lack of confidence and/or have complex emotional needs. We believe in working in partnership with the families and professionals involved in our students’ lives and building positive relationships so as to ensure an optimal approach to the needs of our service users. |
Some of the work we do at the project-
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