The Let Nature Feed Your Senses project organises free sensory rich farm visits for people who do not have the opportunity to visit the countryside, because of age, disability or social circumstance. Visits aim to encourage a lifelong love of nature through food and farming. Discovery bags, activity books and audio clips encourage visitors to continue connecting to the natural world when they return home.
Whether you’re a farmer and are looking for engaging new activity ideas or want to know more about how your user groups might benefit from connecting with nature through a sensory rich farm visit, then come along and be inspired at the second Let Nature Feed Your Senses National Conference on Tuesday 6th September at Reaseheath College, Cheshire.
Key note speakers will be Jo Schofield and Fiona Danks who will share ideas to awaken a sense of wonder and enjoyment in the natural world. Jo and Fiona have authored the Going Wild series of books, which are full of practical ideas to make it easier for families, schools, play leaders and children to get outdoors and have fun. Other speakers are Sue Padfield, South West regional project co-ordinator, who has developed a sensory rich memory box to help elderly people reminisce during visits. Paul Barnes, a Lancashire host farmer who also works for Voyage Care, will discuss the current policy environment and the implications of personal care budgets for host farmers. Other host farmers will discuss the distinctiveness of project visits and key lessons learnt so far.
Jo and Fiona will also lead a workshop to find creative approaches to linking nature, food and farming by working with natural materials found on farm, such as clay, chalk, eggs, feathers, berries, wool, and straw. Engaging taste during a visit can sometimes be challenging, so two hands-on cookery workshops on foraging and seasonal pancakes lead by Cracking Good Food Manchester, will offer some practical ideas to get visitors taste buds tingling! More details are available on the project website.
Places are limited, so to book your place, please e-mail Carol at the LEAF office, carol.cartwright@leafuk.org or call 02476 413911.
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