Come and visit our farm - absolutely free! Bring your group, small or large, to our farm for a 2-5 hour hands-on, engaging tour exploring our 55 acres of tended land.
25 groups can visit for free throughout the year to strengthen their relationship with their food and environment: schools, nurseries, colleges, scout and guides groups, home-ed groups & more.
Land-based learning provides young people with the opportunity to experience themselves in a new context, away from their normal concerns and distractions.
To book: email oxenparkfarmbookings@gmail.com or call 01647252643 to book a date that suits you.
Learn about:
- woodland creation and management
- habitat creation
- hedgerow management
- food production
- animal husbandry
- conservation
- supporting biodiversity
We will visit:
- pigs, chickens & sheep (& feed them)
- trees ranging from 1 year to 750 years old
- wildlife ponds
- vegetable & fruit gardens (& maybe harvest some)
- the poly tunnels where amongst vegetables, we also grow lemons & passionfruit
Supporting curriculum:
EY & KS1:
- Animal life cycles
- Empathy & respect for living creatures & nature
- Understanding seasons
- How weather affects plants & animals
KS2:
- Habitats & adaptation, food chains
- Geographical land use & farm ecosystems
- Human modification of landscape
- How weather affects agriculture globally
- Sustainability discussions - food miles, seasonal foods, water use & water cycles
Not your usual farm tour!
We believe that children & young people learn best when engaged in meaningful activity. And so when we go on our farm adventure, we always find something useful to do. This may be harvesting food, feeding animals, collecting eggs, watering plants - whatever the land needs. These activities have come to be known as 'farm joblets', so come prepared to get involved!
Farmer Jo & Paddy who lead the farm visits are both educators at heart, and want to share their love of the land with our young visitors.
How to Book:
Just email oxenparkfarmbookings@gmail.com or call 01647 252643 to arrange a date to suit you.
The farm visit is completely free as it is supported by DEFRA via a countryside stewardship grant. We regret that we cannot help with transport costs.
All that we require is a short feedback form to be completed by your group. A Risk Assessment will be available to you before your visit.
What to bring:
Staff & children will need to arrive wearing wellies & waterproofs if needed as the farm tour will go ahead whatever the weather. You are welcome to bring snacks or lunch and stay at the farm to eat these if it helps your schedule. (we can also provide snacks & lunches by arrangement)
We also run Primary Day Visits and School residentials and can come to your setting with our Outreach work.
Download our Free Farm Visit flier here
Pre-visit information
Here is some useful information ahead of your visits, but do feel free to contact us with any queries you might have : oxenparkfarmbookings@gmail.com or call us 01647 252643.
Getting here
Smaller coaches, minibuses and cars and welcome to drive to us and park in our carpark.
If you are arriving by a large coach, we will meet you down on the Teign Valley road by the turning to Lower Ashton, as large coaches cannot pass over the village bridge. We will meet you from the coach and the farm tour will begin with a short walk to the farm. We will then walk with you to meet your coach at the end of your visit.
Directions to the farm can be found here.
Risk Assessments
Please use our Risk Assessments to complete your school risk assessments necessary for bringing children on a school trip.
Visiting Farm Animals Risk Assessment
Collecting Groups Offsite Risk Assessment
Who will be greeting and hosting us?
All of our staff are experienced educators and group facilitators and we love to host young people at the farm. We are all DBS checked and have safeguarding and first aid training.
What about our SEND pupils?
We are an inclusive organisation and aim to be welcoming to all. Our staff have SEND experience and are always keen to learn more - if there is anything you would like to tell us ahead of your visit, please do not hesitate to get in touch: oxenparkfarmbookings@hotmail.com
How accessible are you?
We aim to be accessible to all, but we are a farm and situated on a hill - not all of our fields and gardens are accessible by wheelchair. All of our toilets are compost toilets, and we do have one wheelchair accessible toilet.
