Folly Farm

See also: Folly Farm Appeal - the Trust’s most ambitious project

Folly Farm is a beautiful 250-acre estate which has been owned and managed as a nature reserve by the Trust since 1987. It is rich in history as well as wildlife, with a set of buildings dating back to the 17th century and landscape features relating to phases of development as a medieval deer park and 18th century ferme ornée (ornamental farm). A large area of nationally important neutral grassland and ancient woodland is designated as a SSSI. The higher slopes of the farm offer impressive views over the Chew Valley towards the Mendip Hills AONB.

The farm lies about eight miles south of Bristol, just off the A368 Bath to Weston-super-Mare road, close to the village of Bishop Sutton. It is open to the public all year round (NB sorry no dogs allowed); visitor facilities include a car park, toilets and waymarked trails. See Access Project for information on the farm's Access for All trail and other facilities for people with disabilities. The Trust holds a range of events at Folly Farm throughout the year - see the events programme for details. The Folly Farm Volunteers meet every Thursday to carry out practical work; see become a volunteer

The Trust is hoping to secure funding to carry out a major programme of building renovation and historic landscape restoration at Folly Farm over the next few years. The aim is to develop its full potential as a residential education centre, promoting the principles of biodiversity and sustainability within an historic context. This will build on the successful Earth Education programme which is already on offer to schools at the farm.

Earth Education
The farm's habitats and buildings provide the setting for a range of innovative environmental education programmes which have all been created to help children learn about basic ecological concepts and ideas. Three-day and one-day programmes are available, and there are options suitable for a range of ages from Reception to Year 7. All programmes have strong curriculum links (particularly Science, Geography, Art and English) and some provide a package of activities which can be undertaken both before and after your visit.

Earth Education is based around active outdoor learning activities which are hands-on and allow children to explore the natural environment in new and stimulating ways. The programmes cover concepts such as energy flow and food chains, habitats and adaptation, and the needs of living things. The aims of the Earth Education programmes are to:

• help young people develop a basic understanding of the major ecological systems and communities of the planet

• develop in young people strong and lasting attachments to the Earth and all its life

• help young people find ways of reducing their impact on the Earth.

An outline of the Trust's Earth Education programme is given below; for further information (on activity content, times, costs, group numbers and how to book) please contact us and ask for full details to be sent.

One-day visits - available all year round

Most one-day visits include sensory and exploratory activities and also focus on one major ecological concept. One-day programmes include:

Teddy Bear's Picnic (Reception, Years 1 & 2)
Looking at the needs for life of all living things - shelter, water, air and food. Children share a big book story, play active games, and explore the natural environment through special sensory activities, following the trail of their missing teddy bears.

A Really Wild Walk (Years 3 & 4)
This programme takes children on a stimulating adventure around Folly Farm, exploring the natural world around them in new and exciting ways, including special activities using all of their senses.

Earth Studios (Years 3 - 6)
A hands-on discovery walk around Folly Farm lets children discover the natural environment in new ways. Techniques are then learnt for using natural materials to interpret this environment. Wild works of art will be designed and created in both 2D and 3D.

Home Sweet Home (Years 4, 5 & 6)
Through role play and investigation the children look at the ways in which plants and animals are adapted to meet their needs for life in their own special habitats. Children will compare plants and animals living in three different habitats.

Natural Cycles (Years 4, 5 & 6)
Children spend most of the day on the trail of the 'specks' - specks of air, soil and water - to discover how materials are recycled as they study the soil, water and air cycles. In the woods children learn about the natural recycling of all living matter and discuss the ways these cycles might be upset by things like pollution.

Earth Caretakers (Years 4, 5 & 6)
This programme has three components:

a. The Throwaway Planet - a mystery package delivered to the school introduces the children to the idea of earth caretaking

b. Day Visit to Folly Farm - a day of hands-on activities leads the children through concepts of food chains and energy flow

c. School/Home follow-up - children are encouraged to look at ways in which they can help the environment by saving energy and materials.

History programmes - available spring and autumn terms

Ancient crafts of the land: Saxons/Vikings/Celts (Years 3 - 6)
Bring history to life with a day to discover what life was like one thousand years ago. Through role play and practical activities children will investigate day to day aspects of life in Saxon, Viking or Celtic times including shelters and food production, focusing on sustainable living. They will have the opportunity to try out a range of crafts from spinning and weaving to coppice crafts and charcoal making.

Three-day visits - available all year round

Earthkeepers (Years 5, 6 & 7)
Earthkeepers is a detailed and innovative environmental education programme for 8 - 12 year olds. Three days of hands-on ecological activities and magical experiences at Folly Farm begin a programme which is then carried on back at school and home. In this way Earthkeepers helps children to understand the natural world, care about it and take actions to help preserve it. It thus provides an excellent starting point for many aspects of the National Curriculum, as well as projects such as 'Eco-schools'.

Earthkeepers can be residential (camping) or taught on three consecutive day visits. The programme covers four ecological concepts as well as many sensory and exploratory activities.

Family activities - see events programme for dates

A number of special family events are held at Folly Farm as part of the Trust's Earth Education programme. These include Family Teddy Bears Picnic and Family Earthwalk.