To inspire the next generation of farmers, we welcome children to the farm for a little learning and a lot of fun!
We're passionate about educating young people (and parents!) on food, farming and the environment - especially helping children find out where food comes from, sustainability and seasonality. We believe the best way to learn is through 'doing' and all our Junior Farmer events include hands-on activities as well as bite-sized lessons, delivered by fully qualified teachers.
We're passionate about educating young people (and parents!) on food, farming and the environment - especially helping children find out where food comes from, sustainability and seasonality. We believe the best way to learn is through 'doing' and all our Junior Farmer events include hands-on activities as well as bite-sized lessons, delivered by fully qualified teachers.
For more information on what we've got planned for our Junior Farmers this year, what we've got up to previously and who's involved, expand the boxes below...
See our 2020 Junior Farmers Schedule
Tickets will be available to book here 4-6 weeks before the sessions. Sign up for email alerts below to get advanced notice of them going on sale.
Check out our Junior Farmers Photo Gallery
READ About our EDUCATION Credentials
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Farmer Tod Bulmer started giving guided educational tours of the farm in the 1980s to adult groups such as the WI, and to occasional school classes. A natural (loud) speaker, these days Tod gives talks on the history of the farm and farming in general to various societies who invite him to speak. With over 50 years of farming experience there aren't many questions he can't answer and you might get the chance to pick his brain as he drives you round the farm on his tractor and trailer!
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Farmer Tod Bulmer
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Kathryn teaching how to grow pumpkins.
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Kathryn Green has over 30 years of teaching experience, particularly in subjects such as geography, communication, teacher training and provision for people with learning difficulties.
After retiring from teaching in 2011 she joined us to work mainly in the plant centre, but soon got involved in helping out with school visits to the farm. Kathryn has now led hundreds of school visits around the farm, which have grown in popularity every year, with over 1300 children coming to the farm in 2019 on an official school trip. When we came up with the concept for Junior Farmers in January 2018, Kathryn was instrumental in developing the programme. The sessions are available to children outside of school-time and offer a mix of education, hands-on learning and outdoor, creative fun. The Junior Farmers sessions have proven phenomenally popular, and we owe a debt of gratitude to Kathryn for her unwavering enthusiasm for running the sessions, come rain or shine! |
Simon (left) and James (right)
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Simon Bulmer grew up at Kenyon Hall and spent much of his youth working on the farm. During the 2010s he moved to Cumbria and qualified as a primary school teacher, gaining 8 years of experience in this vocation. He returned to the farm in 2020 as horticultural manager but is keen to get involved in our educational offerings. Given his recent in-school experience, he will be a welcome addition to our learning team!
Simon's younger brother James Bulmer created the concept of Junior Farmers and has helped oversee the development of the programme. Although he has no formal qualifications in education (which is rare for someone with a geography degree!) he's father to 3 children aged between 1 and 5, so is leaning on the job very quickly! |
Unfortunately we have not been able to run our Junior Farmers sessions since March 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. We hope to restart sessions in early 2021. Please sign up to our newsletter below to be the first to hear about this.
In February 2020 we became an official Learning Destination for the Children's University, allowing children to receive credits when they attend a Junior Farmers session. We're really proud to receive this recognition for the learning we provide at the farm and remind any children who are part of this initiative to bring their learning passports with them to Junior Farmers for us to stamp!