Lancing College Farm Project

The farm runs as an extra-curricular activity for Lancing College pupils, as well as a resource for local schools and charities. The farm project is rooted in conservation and open to all-comers. The farm welcomes approximately 200 external visits a year.

Through various stewardship and woodland grant schemes, the farm maintains links with organisations such as Natural England and the Forestry Commission, and works closely with the South Downs National Park Authority to manage the woodland, ditches, ponds and river adjacent to the farm, replanting hedges and monitoring wildlife.

The farm takes part in Open Farm Sunday, the national initiative for local communities.

The farm also hosts educational visits for local primary schools and provides work placements for agricultural students, as well as hosting visits from special educational needs schools.

Lancing College farm is also involved with the conservation of the rapidly declining White-letter Hairstreak butterfly, in partnership with wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation (BC). This butterfly has experienced a 93% decline in numbers across the UK since the 1970s and is at risk because its caterpillar will only feed on elm. Millions of elm have been lost across Sussex due to Dutch elm disease, an infection first brought over to the UK on imported logs from Canada. This project aims to plant at least 550 disease-resistant elm trees at Lancing College. Children from Sussex primary schools, special educational needs schools, cubs and scouts groups and teenagers working towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award will all be involved in tasks from planting to learning more about the butterfly.

Visits are free for children of all ages.

Aims

Aims of the project include educating College pupils and pupils from local schools.

Working with local charities, conservation work.

Background

The Farm Project at Lancing College was established in 1983 as an off-shoot of the Science Department. It aims to run as an extra-curricular activity for pupils and is open to the local community. The project aims to educate the younger generation on topics such as conservation and modern farming methods as well as traditional activities such as hedge laying, coppicing and green wood-working.

Resources

Lancing College farm, South Downs National Park Trust, Butterfly Conservation UK, The Stanley Smith (UK) Horticultural Trust, The Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ funding scheme.

Impact

Supporting local schools, educating young people on topics such as conservation, farming and wildlife. Offering education resources to special educational needs schools.

Pupil Involvement

The project supports pupils in their extra-curricular activities, encouraging their interest in sciences and conservational work.

Frequency

The Farm Project is ongoing and children can visit for free on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in term time.

The Project continues to work with children from local schools and with local charities.