Birds, bats and woozles at Sacrewell Farm

It’s very easy at this time of year to stay indoors with the heating on, cuddle up under a blanket and hibernate until spring. But at Sacrewell near Wansford it’s an all-year-round event and the team are keen to get everyone out and about this winter!

Last year was busy at Sacrewell and throughout 2016 The Moment covered topics such as lambing, conserving local breeds and the educational goals of the William Scott Abbott Trust, which owns the farm. This year we’re going to focus much more on the host of day-to-day educational activities and events that visitors can take part in on site, designed to ensure that everyone is getting an insight into the British countryside and the culture that surrounds it. Not only can visitors follow trails and walks around the farmland, with permission from Natural England and Riverford – the organic farmers, who grow food on the 550-acre site, there’s usually something going on in the visitor centre to keep all ages entertained as well.

General Manager Debbie Queen explains: ‘We have a really diverse range of visitors here at Sacrewell. Not only do we cater for the heritage market who love to come along and see what we’re doing in our 18th Century watermill, as an educational trust, we have a duty to visitors of all ages to ensure they leave here having learned something of value – whether it’s the name of a bird or the complete 2000-year history of Sacrewell Farm.’

This winter the team is once again inviting visitors along for Winnie the Pooh Weekend on 14 and 15 January. Based on the national event that celebrates Winnie the Pooh author, A. A. Milne’s birthday, visitors can join in a game of Pooh Sticks at the Mill, build a house at Pooh Corner, hunt for Woozles, learn all about the books that made Pooh such a British icon and hear some of the poems and stories that Milne wrote.

Debbie said: ‘We held our first Winnie the Pooh event last year and it was such a success we’ve decided to run it over two days this year with even more things to do.’ New for this winter are a series of outdoor and wildlife events that are both educational and practical.

‘We know that not everyone has a garden,’ explains Debbie, ‘or has a chance to get outside and learn about wildlife – especially in winter, so we’re giving them an opportunity to learn about ways they can help birds and wildlife throughout the season and into spring. It’s an age-old pleasure to watch wildlife using something you’ve made for them and we want people to take those skills away with them.’

During February half-term the team will be putting on outdoor skills sessions such as den building, so keep an eye on the website for more details. www.sacrewell.org.uk