Community and Education at Tablehurst Farm

June 2025

There are many ways to rear livestock and grow vegetables, and we are always grateful to our customers and community for supporting our produce and the way we farm. Therefore, as well as continuing to supply nutritious food and caring for the land, we believe we have a responsibility to be an educator, and explain to the community how we farm and why it is important to us. In this article, we’d like to highlight our education initiatives and the impact that we hope we are making. 

School Farm Visits 

With more than 30 years of biodynamic farming experience at Tablehurst Farm and a wealth of knowledge on agriculture, Peter Brown heads up our education programme. Since the start of 2024, Peter has hosted 13 school tours on the farm. The children, ranging from age 5 to 17, are introduced to our cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and turkeys, and learnt about their habitat, diet and other needs. They also saw our vegetable fields and polytunnels, our compost and how we use manure from our livestock to fertilise the soil. The aim is to show the children where food comes from and how biodiversity benefits the food chain. 

Among the children we have hosted, some are from local schools and already familiar with the farm, such as Michael Hall and Forest Row Primary School. Additionally, we are thankful to the Country Trust for their work. Through them we have connected with and welcomed children and teachers, some from disadvantaged areas, who may not otherwise know about Tablehurst Farm. 

And they always have a blast – even (or especially?) on the muddy days! Among the many positive feedback, this was our favourite: “Absolutely incredible farm experience. The children and adults learnt so much... Also, many of the children want to become farmers and ecologists after this trip! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”  

Other Farm Tours 

Tablehurst is a community farm with a number of public paths running through it, as well as an onsite farm shop and cafe, so we are open to visits from the community. In addition, we offer scheduled events where our farmers give a guided tour and introduce our farming methods to private groups. 

Last year we hosted our “Summer Safaris”, where participants hopped onto our tractor-pulled trailer and saw our animals from a different angle! This year we will again divide our farm tour into two days, but focus on different animals each day. On 2 August we will walk to see the Jersey cattle and pigs, and on 30 August is the opportunity to be pulled along atop the trailer to visit the Sussex cattle and chickens. Tickets will be available on our website soon so watch this space!

We also provide bespoke tours. Since last summer, we have hosted farm days for Planet Organic, the London-based health food company. The goal is to enable their team members to connect with nature, and through the farm tours and Q&A sessions they gain a deeper understanding of organic food production and sustainable farming. We provide a healthy lunch on each visit so it’s also a great team-building experience. 

Every spring we organise an event on the farm to celebrate our new lambs, piglets and other new arrivals. This is another opportunity for children and adults to meet our farmers, and find out more about what goes on at Tablehurst Farm! 

Apprenticeship Programme 

We currently have two apprentice farmers, who are enrolled on the Work-based Training programme of the Biodynamic Agricultural College. Our apprentices are mentored and given full-time hands-on work to help them develop the knowledge and skills to become the next generation of biodynamic farmers.

As well as Tablehurst Farm's own initiatives, we set aside a plot on the farm for the programmes of Tablehurst Young Farmers, who deliver weekly farm-based activities for children.

A farm can be a great place to connect people, nature and food. Through our education initiatives, we hope to share the message that our food is the product of love and hard work from the farmers, and how we farm and care for our animals, crops, soil and water directly impacts the wellbeing of ourselves and nature.