Farm Update June 2022

It has been a very busy Spring here at the farm.

Our RDA Group, which restarted at the end of February, is getting back to full capacity. We now have five RDA horses/ponies four of which Bob, Dusty, Bing and Bubbles are on loan and one horse Stanley, has recently been bought by our RDA Group.

Our new Chair, Rob Ham took on the mammoth task of redesigning and returfing our picnic area so the students have somewhere relaxing to eat their lunch. Our students enjoyed helping him, even though he chose the wettest week in May to do this! We have also bought two new recycled plastic picnic benches and will be planting two apple trees to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee, at the official opening of our Jubilee Garden on 22 June 2022.

Bird flu were restrictions were lifted on 2 May 2022. Our poultry were SO happy to be able to free range again after seven months locked away. We were also donated four beautiful runner ducks who are enjoying their new home at the Larkrise main site.

We are eagerly awaiting, at the end of June, the arrival of our new metal shed/workshop to replace the previous wooden shed which had to be demolished as it was unsafe. We are very grateful to Wiltshire Community Foundation for their grant which allowed us to buy such a high quality replacement shed which will also be more durable.

Last, but by no means least, at the end of May, we were delighted that the Trustees agreed to re-open to the farm to the general public. We are really looking forward to welcoming visitors again.

Ashley Wicks, Business Manager, Larkrise Community Farm.    8/6/22