Private School News

Lancing College: Open Farm Sunday 7th June

Sunday 7th June, 1.00 – 3.00pm

A rare opportunity for members of the public to take a tour of the Lancing College Farm Project

Lancing College is one of the few schools in this country to include a working farm on its estate. Derek Cleaver, the Farm Manager, a farmer with forty years experience, is on the board of the Sussex Farmers Association. He also runs the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Lancing. The farm is integral to this: vet work is used to teach skills and conservation and general farm work provides students with service. The Duke of Edinburgh himself considers this farm project to be unique.

On Open Farm Sunday Derek Cleaver will personally guide visitors round the Lancing College Farm, explaining in detail how it is run. They will see how food that we eat is grown and produced, as well as learning about pupil involvement in this scheme.

The Lancing College Farm is set on 40 acres of the estate, in countryside designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are chickens, sheep, pigs, ducks, rabbits and goats – and even alpacas.

The Lancing College Farm Project gives students a unique opportunity to take subjects such as Biology, Geography and Business Studies out of the classroom, and offers real ‘hands-on’ experience of a working farm. Students can broaden their interests within agriculture, ecology and veterinary science and learn about food sourcing, animal care and sustainability.

Students are also taught about wild life, their habitats and conservation as well as the importance of recycling. Paths, animal bedding and farm buildings have been created from disused materials from the College, including shredded paper, pallets and wood scraps.

As well as supplementing students’ studies, the farm presents exciting opportunities beyond the national curriculum. Lancing College runs an outreach programme in partnership with two special needs schools. Lancing sixth form students pass on their knowledge of animal care by assisting pupils from the special needs schools with simple tasks on the farm in weekly sessions.

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, who has a particular interest in agriculture, will launch the occasion at 1.00pm.

Open Farm Sunday at Lancing College is part of a national initiative, organised by LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming).

Advance booking is essential for your visit on 7th June. Please contact Derek Cleaver, Farm Manager on 01273 465947 or 07979522638 to book your place.

Lambing
There are about 50 lambs this year. During lambing, Derek stays on site around the clock and he involves as many pupils as possible. The lambs grow strong from milk produced by grass rather than artificial food.

Rabbits
Lancing’s first rabbits came from the Rabbit Rescue Centre in Crowborough. The farm now gives its many baby rabbits to the Rabbit Rescue Centre, who sell them on, either as show rabbits or as pets. The money raised from these sales goes directly into rescuing more rabbits. Lancing College now boasts some magnificent breeds including Continental Giants, Lionheads, Lionhead Lops, Dutch and the rare Sussex breed.

Alpacas
There are currently seven alpacas on the farm. The fleece is sold to various spinning guilds all over the country, and the money raised goes back into the upkeep of the farm.

Sustainability and Conservation
Sustainability and conservation are key to Derek’s farm management. In a recent study, 43 species of plant life were found on a square metre untreated with chemicals on the Lancing College estate. This compares with 3 species found on a square metre of the same type of soil which has been treated.

Through the conservation of the Lancing estate, many species of wildlife are returning and flourishing.