Over Easter, Edventures had the exciting opportunity to visit Paddock’s Farm. Nestled quietly away on the Keele University Campus, you would never know it was there. This picturesque working dairy farm is worked on and owned by a 3rd generation farmer and his family.
Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by Mrs Sam Summerfield, a former Primary School Teacher and current Keele University Primary PGCE Lecturer. We were in excellent hands. The children saw first hand the hustle and bustle and the ins and outs of how a dairy farm operates on a daily basis.
We first met the farm’s retired working horses and heard tales of how they used to transport milk into the village and transport the feed to the cows. Moving on, the children held freshly hatched baby geese and the children learnt how they imprint on their Mother, the matriarch of the family, Sam’s Mother-in-Law.
The children made natural bookmarks from plants, flowers, seeds and feathers as well as learning about camouflage and its importance in the animal kingdom.
The pièce de résistance was certainly meeting and feeding the babies of Mrs Summerfield’s herd of Friesian cows. This sea of black and white was truly magnificent. These ladies were thrilled to meet the children and greeted us with loud ‘moos’, strokes and licks! The glorious weather allowed us to picnic on the grass and we finished our delightful little outing in the woods, making dens from the natural materials for Mrs Summerfield’s teddy.
Although our outing to Paddock’s Farm was my highlight of the Easter break, the children enjoyed a range of activities back at Edenhurst. From crafting lanterns in celebration of Ramadan, gardening in our school rockery, and riding their ‘big wheels’ one sunny afternoon.
Our next session of Edventures is open on Tuesday 30th May with an exciting trip to our very local Tudor House: Ford Green hall.
Until next time…
Mrs Martin
Categories: Edventures School Blogs
