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Events, Workshops and Professional Development
Download a course booking form here 
and click here for our current Newsletter  |
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NEW FOR SCHOOLS!
Special events & activities for Foundation Stage & KS1 for 2011:-
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Children hear the story of Christmas told by one of our friendly donkeys. An interactive experience, the children meet the donkey and help tell the story.
Whatever the weather a visit to Manor Farm in the festive season is not to be missed
All for the usual group admission price. Please see below for contact and booking details
From 9 November Santa will be visiting his new, cosy cabin in the woodland every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday right up to Christmas. Children can meet him there and receive a present for an additional charge of £3.00. This can be booked as part of a visit.
For older children, all our usual options are available plus the opportunity to visit Santa.
We have lots of other events and activities coming up in the next few months for our family visitors, including Willow Crafts, Apple Day, a Celebration of Trees and more
PLUS.......
Our fabulous Halloween Party and a packed Christmas programme - visit Santa in his new log cabin in the woods, make decorations and table centres........... and the festive season wouldn't be complete without our famous Nativity Play, starring the animals!
Please see our Events Page for more details >>> |
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School, Pre-school and Children's visits to Manor Farm |
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Why choose to visit Manor Farm?
Manor Farm has over 15 years experience of hosting group visits. Over that time its reputation for excellence has grown along with the facilities the farm can offer. The Farm and its staff have achieved CEVAS award (Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme) and are working towards the Learning Outside the Classroom quality assurance badge.
If you are planning a day of leisure or a day with activities linked to your curriculum Manor Farm has many options to choose from. (see below) Providing your group size is a minimum of 20 children, there is free adult entry at a ratio of 1:5 for children aged 3 and under and 1:8 for all other children. The Farm is within easy travelling distance from Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. There is free parking space for coaches.
A brief guide to our curriculum-linked activities
Please note: Where appropriate activities will make use of our heated woodland cabin, ‘Tentipi’ (yes, also with a fire) and other child- and leader/ practitioner- friendly areas.
All activities detailed will be led by suitably qualified and experienced members of our team.
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OWL WALK – HABITATS; OWLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD; DRAWING FS links
HABITATS - 45min walk around lake and up to Hoots Hollows (max 15 children per group)
The children meet an owl down by the bird observation hide and we look at how different birds feed. Moving on past the lake we look at where different birds make their homes and how some like water – and others don’t – brrrr! Walking across the wildflower meadow we look at where owls might hunt and, finally, reaching the owlery we see owls from around the world and where the rescued owls are cared for.
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OWLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
A guided tour of our aviaries comparing the different birds. Full of fascinating information about how owls have adapted to their natural world and the stories behind the
OWL EXPERIENCE – 30mins £2 per person
An opportunity for all ages to ‘get up close and personal’ with our owls. All ages will get the chance to stroke and handle an owl. You will be closely supervised by trained staff who will tell you stories about the owls and answer any questions you may have – such as “Can Owls really swivel their heads around and around?”
Please ask us about opportunities for drawing owls - those at Hoots Hollows and maybe colour a drawing of your favourite owl. |
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MR FOX NEEDS A NEW HOME – KS1 links 90min session total: 30min short story walk from Main Barn to Goose Woods and 60min explore and den-building in the woods. Max group size 30 children – 2 groups per day possible.
How would you like to share your bed with someone who is still wearing their fur coat? They get pretty hot and fidgety we can tell you! So, if the farmhouse doesn’t suit Mr Fox, where will? We take a long hard look at the stables; cages and even the hen house! Soon we find the woods, but will he like sharing them with our flock of geese? Further down the track a little gate leads into a secluded woodland area that the children can explore and are given den kits to build a ‘des res’ that they feel Mr Fox and his friends would enjoy. |
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TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC – FS, KS1 links 3½ hour session total, including Teddies’ PAWS woodland trail; picnic and play time. Max group size 35 - 1:5 adult:child ratio required. Sorry- only one picnic per day!
On arrival with their teddies and picnics, the children are introduced to the essentials of life (PAWS) and play games to promote their appreciation of the trees all around them. Then it is off to explore and learn about the woods but, Hey! The teddies have run off with the picnics! They have, however, left a trail of clues for us to work out until we find their secret woodland picnic site. Reunited with our teddies, we all enjoy our lunches and then build Teddy Dens. If we have any energy left, we get to spend some time on the Fort adventure Play Area before it is time to board our bus for your sleepy journey home. |
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WOODLAND SCHOOL – FS; KS1; KS2 links 2½ hrs guided time in the woods plus 2 hours time on the Farm Centre. Max group size 25 children –- 1:5 adult:child ratio required. 2 groups per day possible.
What can’t we say about this fun time? In addition to building dens for your lunch, activities can focus on minibeasts, materials, plants, habitats, and so on and so forth. How about some campfire cooking and rope bridges through the trees. Watch personalities blossom and stereotypical roles quickly abandoned as the children – and adults – sort out ways to make things happen and solve problems. On top of all this, there is time in the Play Barn and looking at the animals and owls.What a day! |
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ORIENTEERING – KS2; KS3 links Up to 1½hr including introduction and feedback - the full course itself takes approx. 40min Max group size 40. 2 groups per day possible.
Have a great time exploring the Manor Farm site with your friends, whilst learning about orienteering, problem solving and map reading. A great way to burn off energy as part of a full day here. |
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FOREST SCHOOLS - KS2; KS3 links 2½ hr sessions – 1:5 adult:child ratio required plus our staff. Max group size 20. 2 groups per day possible.
We’ve been running these rather special sessions for four years now – and regularly get repeat bookings. Activities will include campfires, dens, rope structures and tools (yes, including bowsaws, billhooks and knives!) This really is Learning Outside the Classroom! Some schools run them as single sessions – others prefer to book a course of Forest Schools.
Telephone for more details – Cath on 07887 996293 or Philip on 07788 721655 |
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FIELD TRIPS – KS3 links Full or part days
Please speak to Cath Thomson, our Education Officer, on 07887 996293 for more information on Geography, History, Farming/Economics, Animal Health opportunities. |
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SCHOOL/YEAR ACTIVITY DAY
FS to KS3 links
Days usually divided into 45minute activity/play blocks – the most we have had on site for one day was 180 children plus adults G. But we are happy to do it for a class of 30 too!
Pretty much everything we have already mentioned plus team building games, environmental art, animal handling, campfire cooking. Take home new skills and lots of memories to treasure! |
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Please contact our Education Officer if you would like to make a Group Booking pre-visit.
All children’s group visits to Manor Farm are greeted and co-ordinated by a member of our Environmental Education Team. You will be offered a ‘base room’ close to the Play Barn for use during your visit for bags, snacks, picnics, etc. This has handwashing facilities and toilets are nearby. Refreshments are available from the Gallery Tea Bar (next to the Play Barn). Every child in your group will be given a free pass (currently worth £5) for a future visit to Manor Farm – perhaps with Mum or Dad.
We can structure a day to suit your groups’ needs or set it up as a free-flow day at Manor Farm where the children and grown ups can simply use the day however they want to have fun playing, exploring and meeting the animals.
The programme may be just a set of activities organised so that everyone gets a go on everything, or it can include structured curriculum-linked sessions. In addition to any organised activity you may book you will still have access to the animals, all farm play areas, woodland and nature trail. One comment we hear often, is that there is not enough time to do everything! |
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Preparing for your visit
A Teachers’ guide to Manor Farm - Download a printable file here 
Generic Risk assessment  |
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What's new at Manor Farm?
There’s always something new to see or do at Manor Farm
The latest addition to our repertoire is the “Bird Walk”. Starting off at the bird observation hide by the lake, the children can see lots of birds in their woodland habitats, in hedgerows and in meadows, to finish at Hoots Hollows to see the wonderful owls. They may get to hold an owl on their arm, and certainly will be close enough to stroke one! |
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Open days, courses and special events
We like to think there is something for everyone at Manor Farm, from beginner’s craft workshops to professional training for Early Years practitioners. Special events take place throughout the year and in school holidays.
Leaflets about our activities, facilities and events are always available from the café, some can be downloaded from links below.
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Farms for Schools

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 click here for a printable version |
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Click on the icons for information about:
Environmental Education 
Farm Visits and Woodland Play 
If you do not have Acrobat Reader click here to download it.
We do hope that you will decide to book a visit here, and look forward to welcoming you in the near future |