Events, Workshops and Professional Development See what we have in store for you this Spring! Download our programme of events and training courses for March-July 2010 click here... Download a booking form here    and click here for our current Newsletter

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School, Pre-school and Children's visits to Manor Farm

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 1:3 for children aged 3 and under and 1: 5 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. Click here for a downloadable printer-friendly version with costs and booking form

	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.		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.
	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.
	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.
	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!
	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.
	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
	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.
	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 adultsG. 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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What every group visit can expect   Before your booked visit you are invited to tour Manor Farm on a free pre-visit when we can discuss how best to make full use of your day. See dates for open days (events list below) or make a private arrangement for a date that suits you. During this time you can undertake risk assessments, confirm your planning and discuss your requirements.   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!

How to book   If you wish to make a booking, please complete and return the Visit Enquiry Form, detailing your requirements, and we will get back to you to confirm our availability on your chosen date.  We do get very busy and so an option of dates is often helpful.   Visit Enquiry Form Curriculum linked activities at Manor Farm (printer-friendly)   We have a number of different packages and very attractively priced options for schools.  In addition to children’s groups, we also offer Teacher In-service Training Days and Family Learning & Play sessions.  If you are interested, or need more information, please phone Philip on 07788 721655 to find out how best we can help you, or email headoffice@manorfarm.info   Alternatively, contact our Education Officer, Catherine Thomson on 07887 996293, she will also answer enquiries regarding “Forest Schools”   For details about Room Bookings please contact the office on 01509 852525.

Preparing for your visit   A Teachers’ guide to Manor Farm - Download a printable file here    Generic Risk assessment

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!

“Show & Tell” Events Bus We now have a fantastic new facility for school and interest group visits - a "Show & Tell" Events bus!   An ambulance has been very kindly donated by George Brown of Ambulance Aid and is used to take small animals to shows and schools and special events.  The refurbishment has been helped enormously by a very generous donation from Mr Spencer, of Bulwell, Nottingham, in memory of his late wife Kathleen.  So many thanks go to him. So we can now visit pre-school settings, schools and organisations to talk to children about our animals and the work we do. Or we can run outdoor Forest School activities that provide you with ideas to help you make the most of your outdoor spaces. Depending on what you require, we can in the course of a school day work with several different classes from Foundation to Key Stage 3. Ask about the topics we cover. In the past we have taken Albert, our mottled Belgian cockerel, along.  He loves his fusses from the children and usually falls asleep. This year we took 2 of our Anglo Nubian goats, to outside events like Lark in the Park in West Bridgford and the Radcliffe Show.  They were very popular with the  public, young and old - some of them thought they were donkeys – or reindeer!  Please note, however, that for animal safety and comfort we cannot bring donkeys out on the Bus, sorry. So if you would like a visit to your setting, please let us know. Phone Philip on 07788 721655, or email headoffice@manorfarm.info

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.                  Farms for Schools                                click here for a printable version

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