If you were a fly on the wall at our farms this summer, you would have seen children, young people and adults arriving from all over the country — and leaving a week later with stories they’ll carry for life.
Brave beginnings with Duke of Edinburgh groups
At Nethercott House and Lower Treginnis, three Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award residential groups spent their week immersed in farm life. Each had 17 young people, many travelling solo from as far as London, Manchester and even Edinburgh.
For most, a week on a farm is a chance to step far outside their comfort zones. One teenager explained that he’d chosen the farm option because he wanted something “as far from normal as possible.” By day two he was digging potatoes and preparing entries for the Chulmleigh Fair, where the group went on to win an award with the sheep they showed.
Young people faced challenges in Pembrokeshire too: building a tool shed, handling livestock, tackling practical jobs that demanded independence and teamwork.
These older groups rise to tasks that go well beyond what our primary or secondary school farmers experience and it’s remarkable to watch their confidence grow. The week is full of firsts: handling animals, harvesting food, learning to use tools, or meeting someone from a completely different place and background.
Different rhythms with community groups
Community groups bring a different energy to the farms. They are a patchwork of ages, with younger children, teenagers, volunteers and adults all sharing the same week. The mix makes for an atmosphere that’s lively, full of variety and deeply rewarding.
When Imagine If joined us at Wick Court, their CEO Jemma told us about children who had never been on holiday before. She spoke about a girl who is selectively mute at home but who found her voice on the farm. “She doesn’t stop talking here,” she said with pride. It’s hard to think of a more powerful picture of what these visits can do.
The young people themselves shared what they loved most: harvesting food, cooking together, then sitting down to eat a meal they had created from scratch. One boy grinned as he said, “I knew the food would be good, but I didn’t know it would be this good.”
A season to remember
Across the summer we also welcomed military families and youth projects from Liverpool and London, finding their footing in the countryside. Each brought their own stories, but all left with shared memories of mornings in the garden, evenings around the table and the pride that comes from working side by side.
If you were a fly on the wall, you’d be reminded that these farms are not just classrooms without walls — they are places where people of all ages thrive, laugh and make friends and memories that last a lifetime.
Bookings for 2026
If you’re part of a community group and would like to experience a week like this, we’d love to welcome you next summer.
📧 Get in touch with our bookings team at bookings@farmsforcitychildren.org to find out more.
