Larkrise Community Farm

I have decided that to prevent me and mostly Niall from losing our minds as we attempt to replicate some real life here in North Bradley I would find some volunteer work to occupy my time. Thank goodness someone had kindness in their hearts and took me on...that would be the group lead by Wendy Self at Larkrise Community Farm! Larkrise Community Farm has been running for several years and most recently last year were moved to a new building and location by a developer who owned the land the previous farm was on which he was ready to develop. George Wimpey spent 450,000 pounds to create the new environment and having seen pictures of the old one, I am happy to have not had to work there. The farm is run as a chartity and their Constitution says:

"The Charity’s objects are to advance education and provide facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation based around it for those who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social and economic circumstances." If you would like to look it up their website is www.larkrisefarm.org.uk As a volunteer I am assisting the students in their daily farm management tasks. I have been lucky enough to have worked with all the ponies and horses, poultry and pigs and cows. I have yet to really get into the sheep and goats or rabbits and birds. In my first week I have been stealthily attacked by a demon rooster, squashed by a horse, cuddled by a calf and chased by a very angry blind pot bellied pig. We have lost a rabbit to a rat, and a goose to an inadvertant kick from a calf. I am having such a fun time and the Farm Manager Wendy is being enormously patient in teaching me all she knows about equine management and has had be make up a bridle which was in 15 pieces by using a sample of one already put together. I have cleaned all the tack and saddle, groomed a pony and done all the messy mucking out and re-bedding of the stables. The farm is a huge going concern and I am so very lucky to have been given the opportunity to work with all the staff and students there.