We are now able to show you a film about the Food for Life Partnership Awards Ceremony 2009, which was hosted here at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall believes strongly in the value of the Food for Life programme, which encourages children and school staff to rediscover food. With the FFL programme’s emphasis on sustainable, healthy food, the Eco Conference Centre was an ideal setting.
Hugh said, “It’s impossible to exaggerate how important it is to feed our kids well when they’re at school. Their physical, mental and even emotional development depends on us getting it exactly right.”
He presented silver and gold awards to those who made the most outstanding impact on their local and school food culture. The star pupils took part in cookery workshops on FFL’s Cooking Bus and enjoyed a tour of Sheepdrove Organic Farm.
UK Green Building Counciltackled a tough teambuilding challenge as part of their event at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre.
Their challenge: create new habitat for the rare Small Blue butterfly – using chalk! Jason Ball, who devised and led the task, explained the ecology of the butterfly, which set the parameters of what the team had to achieve… in one morning session! Small Blue is one of the vulnerable wild species we wish to help here at the farm, and the UKGBC team successfully established our first major habitat area for them.
Jason said, “They funtioned very well as a team. This challenge was unfamiliar and rather difficult – but everyone pulled together, learned from each other and co-operated cleverly on all the problems they had to solve.”
“We are very grateful for to the UK Green Building Council for their hard work, and they can be proud of what they achieved.”
A fabulous place
Paul King, Chief Executive, was very keen to book their two-day team conference at the venue – which has won awards for sustainable design and management.
Paul told us, “I’ve wanted to come to Sheepdrove for some years, particularly having co-written the Little Book of One Planet Living while at WWF-UK, which featured your reedbed system.”
“It’s great to finally be here. It’s a fabulous place!”
Pay As You Save
On the same day they had a major piece of press coverage in The Guardian. UKGBC launched their Pay As You Save report, which promotes a new incentive scheme idea for property refurbishment. John Alker, Head of Advocacy, had to take calls from the media at the same time as the nature conservation work! UKGBC website…
Book your extras early
Be sure to ask us about extra activities when you call to book Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre. Our friendly staff are more than happy to talk about the array of possibilities!
Hundreds of children and parents gathered today in the majestic Oak Room at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre. Tunes flowing from a Steinway grand piano greeted everyone as they found their place on comfy chairs – and giant beanbags!
Classical music played by Mikhail Kazakevich (piano ) and Sarah Austin (flute) combined with a stunning light show, altogether an enchanting experience. Maxine Parsons led the event… an expert educator who welcomed the children and introduced the musicians as people who make classical music accessible to young children. Juliet and Peter Kindersley believe music is very important for children as part of learning and growing up. Read more about Sound Beginnings…
Mikhail Kazakevich solos on a piano music CD compiled by the Kindersleys, called The Healing Power of the Mozart Effect. We sell the CD at Sheepdrove’s web shop. Find it in our gift section…
There were 3 concerts today, with family tea after each. All organic food, of course. Some families dined alfresco in the Physic Garden, which is a beautiful collection of medicinal and edible herbs, coloured with zestfully fragrant flowers.
There is a rumour that the venue might host performances of The Nutcracker this Christmas. Mikhail told us, “I love the Nutcracker music, it is beautiful, powerful. The story has many layers, and the transformations have deep meaning, when you look into it.”
Enjoy a hog roast and childrens BBQ, children’s sausage making competition, guess the sheep’s weight, farm tours, bar, local craftspeople, books and gifts, walks and much more.
As winter slowly draws to a close and the days gradually lengthen, lambing season arrives at Sheepdrove. Our early lambing flock, bred from a hardy cross of Shetland and Poll Dorset ewes, naturally lamb at the beginning of the year from mid February to mid March.
The ewes lamb indoors in a big, airy, purpose-built barn and it’s really worth a trip to Sheepdrove to see the little lambs on our open day.
Shopping tip – make the most of the day!
You can order your meat hamper ahead of the event and collect at the Lambing Day. Take advantage of our special offers! Or simply visit our stall and choose from the great selection of fresh farm produce.
There is so much to see and do !!!
We look forward to seeing you !!!
To encourage car-sharing, admission is £3 per car. No dogs, please. How to get to Sheepdrove Organic Farm – MAP PLEASE NOTE: if you use satnav please put in ‘Sheepdrove Road, Lambourn’, not the postcode.
We are now able to show you a film about the Food for Life Partnership Awards Ceremony 2009, which was hosted here at Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre.
Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre 