Over the past few months, the team at Regather have been busy planning and delivering a six-week programme for Year-6 students from Woodlands Primary School. This unique programme offered a blend of hands-on activities, designed to teach new skills and boost confidence. Located at the Regather farm in the Moss Valley, each session provided an opportunity to deepen the children’s understanding of farming, nature, and the environmental impact of the food they eat.
Throughout the program, students engaged in various practical tasks, including:
Alongside enjoyment and gains in practical knowledge, these activities enabled the development of key skills such as teamwork, indepence, perseverance and problem-solving, qualities which will serve them well in their future endeavours, both in and out of the classroom.
Teachers observed significant growth in the students throughout the programme, with staff commenting that, “Every week the children gained new skills and knowledge…They fed back to their peers in the class what they learned. Some children have even started growing plants at home.”
Another teacher praised the team’s dedication, saying that “Alice has been an amazing influence on the Woodlands children. Her expertise and knowledge that she has shared with the children has been incredible. Each week Alice has gone above and beyond to make the sessions educational, inclusive, fun, and worthwhile”.
The impact on the children’s confidence and enthusiasm was also highlighted: “Seeing the children grow in confidence each week and achieve so much has been a pleasure to watch. Alice’s calming nature has really helped the children. She is so patient with them and understands their needs. The children were so comfortable with her and each week looked forward to attending the farm.”
The program culminated in a celebratory picnic at the farm, where friends and families gathered to acknowledge the children’s achievements and experiences over the past six weeks. At this event, children were presented with commemorative books and certificates to recognise their learning journey. Parents were keen to describe how their children talk about the sessions, and how much they have grown in confidence and are showing their life skills at school and at home.
We wish to extend our thanks to staff at the Regather Farm, Woodlands School and the Mercia Trust for making this collaboration possible.
