A farm, run by the community for the community

Farm News

The Inner Area of the Farm is Open Again...

The Farm inner area has been partially re-opened to visitors follwoing closure since early December due to waterlogged ground conditions, although some areas are still restricted. Visitors are advised to wear stout shoes, boots or wellies when visiting. As soon as the weather warms up and ground conditions further improve, all areas will be reopened but, this is unlikely to be until mid March. You are very welcome to visit the part which has been reopened meanwhile!

FARM OPERATION
The Farm remains operational for normal business in all other respects, and placements and volunteers should report as usual to the Duty Manager in the Farm Admin. Yard adjacent to the Interpretation Unit. This also applies to general enquiries, deliveries, and donated items.

RELAXING WITH REIKI

We hosted a 'Reiki for Animals' day at the Farm during August and in spite of monsoon weather, this was a great success. Practitioners worked with goats, sheep, rabbits and also poultry and held a discussive and investigative workshop in our main Interpretation (classroom) Unit (available for hire, please see details elsewhere on our site). This was the first workshop at Woodgate but, judging by the comments made after the event, it will not be the last. We would be more than happy to host this event again during 2010!
A flavour of some of the feedback is as follows:
"A lovely day even though it was a bit damp. To practice Reiki with such friendly accepting animals was very therapeutic"
"The classroom was great, perfect for the day and quite homely "
" I thought the day was excellent. I look forward to another similar event"

If you wish to know all about Reiki for people and animals visit Kate Jones the Reiki Master at her Website at The Reiki dojo To see a fuller report of the day at Woodgate as outlined above and colour pictures of the event visit the main site and then click onto Next Steps and then Past Events.

OPEN DAY 14th June - ONE OF THE BEST

This was our 18th Annual Open Day, which turned out to be one of the most memorable. Very dry, sunny weather and a huge turnout (estimated at 800+ visitors) enjoyed up to five hours of family fun and entertainment.

The Childrens' Entertainer was very popular with both the young in years and the young at heart, and the two Punch and Judy Shows were enjoyed by everyone ; all that was missing was the sandy beach and the sea!

The Marquees were filled with a variety of things to buy and do including: cake, home made lemonade, silk flower arrangement, and home made greetings cards stalls, all running happily alongside interest and activity stalls comprising the Opal Nature on Your Doorstep Stand, Birmingham and The Black Country Bat Club, and Reike For Animals. And not to forget a Temporary Tattoo Artist and an outstanding Tombola with eighty two super prizes, the Two Star prizes being a Family Ticket to Cadbury World and an Evening Meal with a One Night Stop-over and Breakfast at one of Birmingham's Premier Hotels, Radisson SAS.

Then there were the Face Painters, the Bouncy Castle and a stall where fun wooden badges could be made with airbrushed paint, a huge Plant Sales Stall, and the Refreshment facility with a selection of our famous delicious slices of gateau and other home made delights. And for those with any pennies left, there was always the permanent Farm Bazaar for a few bargains in toys, fancy goods and bric a brac.

This was all set off with the evocative sounds of the Accordian ensemble giving the Event that timeless ambience of the traditional English Fete.

Many thanks to all our Volunteers, Supporters, Visitors and Contributors, without whom the Day would not have been the success that it undoubtedly was.

We are already thinking about next years event on Sunday 13th June 2010....................................

Ernst & Young (Partnership) 2010

We are pleased to announce that Ernst & Young LLP have adopted the Urban Farm as one of two charities they are supporting for the 2010 calendar year as part of the Company's Community Partnership Initiative. This will involve employees in providing team work days at the Urban Farm (the first on 26th March next), office events and special fundraising initiatives and other financial support. The Company will be official Sponsors of our Annual Open Day on Sunday 13th June, when employees will also set up and run fundraising stalls and activities. We very much welcome their enthusiastic support and look forward to working with them this year.

FOR SALE
Genuine bargain !!!!!

Purpose built, sliding glas fronted unit suitable for keeping snakes and other reptiles. Slots for heating cables etc. As new. Cost almost £200. Available for £80 to local person. email wvurbanfarm@yahoo.co.uk to make contact for further details, leaving your telephone number.

nPower (Partnership)

Much valued support from nPower employees continues into yet another year, the fourth in fact, and a Team is being gathered together to carry out some valuable work in our Orchard and Wildlife area during the forthcoming Spring. More news and details on this in due course.

CADBURY'S BUTTONS FUN ON THE FARM EVENT A SWEET SUCCESS!

The Cadbury Fun Event hosted by the Urban Farm on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May and Tuesday 26th May was a sell out occasion. Although it was a free event, it was all ticket, and all tickets were issued. Almost 1,800 people attended across the two days and enjoyed an extravaganza of entertainment and hands on activity.

Puppet shows, karaoke, arts and crafts, colouring, biscuit making, story telling, face painting,and a commando style adventure climbing zone were among the activities available to families all day long, and the site was visited by lifesize animals who posed for pictures with visitors including a penguin, pig, panda monkey and a wise owl. Hungry and thirsty visitors were tempted with a mouth watering selection of barbecue dishes and salad, and a variety of warm and cold drinks.

Everyone went away with a complimentary souvenir photograph, and a goody bag containing amongst other things a colouring book, an animal mask and of course a bag of Cadbury's Buttons!

A spokesman for Cake Entertainment, who produced the Show on behalf of Cadbury's said : "This has exceeded all our expectations in terms of visitor numbers. Your community has turned out in force to support this event which has been a great success"

A Trustee for the Urban Farm said : " Hosting this free event for the local community has been a pleasure and it was wonderful to see so many families having the opportunity of enjoying a free day out in these difficult financial times"

The" Buttons Fun On The Farm" Roadshow moved on to other Member City/Urban Farms within the Federation of City Farms & Community Gardens Movement for various dates throughout May and June in London,Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Middlesbrough, Gateshead, Bath, and Leicester.

For further information and pictures of the two day event in Birmingham at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm, and pictures of the event at other City Farms, visit www.buttonsfunonthefarm.co.uk

New School Information Pack
Our long awaited schools information pack aimed at primary age children is now fully in use. This piece of important work was done in partnership and funded by Ashley's Ark; a charity set up in memory of Ashley Sammons a teenager from Norfolk who loved animals. The information pack is available as part of booked school visits, or at a modest charge to visitors. To find out more about Ashley's Ark please visit: www.ashleysark.org

To book a school or play scheme visit, please email