Leadership Project visit to Hartland Farm
On Wednesday, this year’s cohort on The National Trust’s Leadership Programme made their first outside learning visit as we visited Hartland Farm near Corfe Castle. We were welcomed by The National Trust’s Jill (Senior Volunteering & Community Officer and Mark (Countryside Manager), and Jake the tenant farmer at Hartland. The group of Year 12 and 13 students eagerly grasped binoculars and set off on a tractor trailer tour of the farm’s extensive land. Jake educated us about leading ecological initiatives including tree planting and the benefits of bull pits which are dug by bulls and can create unique, localised habitats for pioneer plants and insects.
We also met a herd of very curious and talkative Aberdeen Angus cattle and a beautiful string of ponies. Head of Sixth Form Simon Holmes said, ‘Once again, it is great to team up with the National Trust and offer such rich and inspiring opportunities to our students. In addition to visits such as this, the students will plan and deliver their own ecological and environmental projects, gaining an excellent qualification at the end which include valuable UCAS points’. Many thanks to Jill, Mark and Jake for hosting this visit.