We love receiving visitors onto the farm. Orchard Farm offers a fantastic opportunity to see how farming can work with nature. Visiting groups can see diverse habitats (from wetlands to meadows) and a farming system all within 34 acres, easy get round in a day.
We work with primary, secondary schools and home education groups, making sure our visitors have an immersive, memorable time in nature. Farm visits can relate directly to the national curriculum. Visits for schools and home education groups are free because they are funded by the Governments’ Environmental Schemes. So, do get in touch at info@orchardfarmdevon.co.uk.
Teachers and students can choose to focus on one aspect, bringing to life a particular topic. Or could spend a session walking the whole farm to undertake a complete exploration of how farming, food and the natural environment are interlinked. We welcome onsite pre-visits to assist with planning, logistics and risk assessments.
A farm visit to Orchard Farm can support topics across the education curriculum including habitat assessments, life cycles, ecosystem services, animal welfare, farming, food production and biodiversity.
We have access to classroom, toilet and handwashing facilities on the Flete Estate which are a short, pretty walk through the historic thatched hamlet of Mothecombe.
We also welcome debate on the key issues of our time: climate change, biodiversity loss and the role of humans in influencing our own issues and the issues that face our planet. We value the opinions of all and encourage our younger generation to have a voice and grasp opportunities to inform and inspire themselves.
We believe that learning springs from happiness and that nurturing a positive learning environment enables our visitors to get the most out of their experience.
Through out the year we also hold on farm events including bird-in-the hand workshops, with licensed bird ringers. Our annual winter harvest mouse survey in our tussocky grassland is a firm farm favourite. Guided dusk bat walks where you may also see the owls hunting mean that everyone can appreciate the magic of the farm at night, something we do throughout lambing season. Farm tours take groups through our meadows, orchards and wood pastures to learn about different nectar, fruit and nut food sources for wildlife and livestock. Many of our visits are free or low cost, reflective of our ambition to provide greater access to farming and nature to people from all backgrounds.