We believe the Outdoor Classroom, Mellow Farm and its facilities provide a superb site for learning.

The Outdoor Classroom

Mellow Farm is situated between the sandy heathland of Frensham Common and the clay of Alice Holt, centred on the River Wey valley. Most of the farm is sandy like the nearby commons but a small part is clay like Alice Holt Forest. The farm is exclusively grassland except for a few small areas of woodland.
The main activities include hay making, turf growing, a small beef suckler herd and several small business units. It has been in the family since 1952 when my father bought it at a time when the farming industry was at a low.
He 'modernised' many aspects of the farm from drainage to milking parlours but once again the industry is fighting to find ways of surviving and this time its small size makes it very inefficient. This story can be seen all through the written records that survive for the farm, back into the 17th century, and the archaeology which starts in the stone age. It is a small 'history book' of local farming in this area.

Direct and Indirect Teaching.

Firstly, and directly, by using parts of the farm children can learn about parts of the National Curriculum. By allowing them to experience features such as the river, woods and buildings and learn about the farm, its history and its current management every subject can be taught in some way.
A series of visits to complement project work can be arranged and will be encouraged.
Secondly, activities which do not have a direct connection with the National Curriculum but serve a strong educational purpose are encouraged, eg measuring tree girths, estimating hay yields from farm records etc. Walks with specific or general topics can be arranged to see the wildlife, history and the daily life of a farm and the countryside.
We like to think that the possibilities are endless just as the children are varied.