Year 3 and 4 head to the farm!

Bereleigh Estate

Today Year 3 and 4 had a fantastic day at the Bereleigh Estate between West Meon and Petersfield.   I am sure that many of the children have come home with stories about their day on the farm.  Take a look at our pictures - our smiles say it all!

Farmer Frank took us for a walk through the sheep fields.  We met the shearling lambs that are a year old and being fattened up ready for Autumn.  This years lambs were still incredibly cute and cuddly - some of the teachers wanted to take one home!  He taught us about the different coloured markings that are used on the sheep and how the tags are used on their ears.

 Stream dipping was great fun! Some of us nearly filled our wellies with water instead of the trays and nets.  It was great fun seeing fresh water shrimp and fish.

 In the barn we met Mary.  She taught us about shearing the sheep and showed us how wool is spun using older methods.  Thirty fleeces are in each of the bags in front of us and it takes two minutes for each sheep to be sheared.  Some of you may notice a few of the rosettes on the barn wall.  The Estate is well known for the award winning sheep and their wool.

 After Mary taught us about how wool is produced, she let us make small sheep.  We wrapped a sheep figurine in wool that has come from the Estate sheep.  

 The Agronomist was really interesting.  He told us about how he supports the farm with crop rotation and keeping pests at bay.  We saw the wheat, oilseed rape and oats at different stages of their crop life. He also told us that a new tractor would cost the farm in the region of £200,000.  Some of the children were amazed when we compared this to the cost of a house!

In the walled garden we learnt about day to day produce used by the Estate.  We planted up some beans and have brought them home.  Mrs Warland, Mrs Stanley and Mrs Nye are looking forward to seeing the progress of those beans.  Why not bring a photo into school for us to upload onto the blog? Who will grow the best bean?

A huge thank you to all the staff and parents who supported the trip.  I think we had just as much fun as the children - especially on the tractor ride!