Introducing Pip!

Hello boys and girls, my name is Pip and I live with Farmer Joy at Cronkshaw Fold Farm.

Our farm is a really special place because as well as all the animals on the farm Joy has lots of other interesting things. The boys and girls can learn about the countryside and food and farming by playing and exploring.

The farm is in a beautiful place up on the hills above Helmshore village. It is so good to breathe the lovely fresh air and look at the beautiful views of the countryside. Joy has made lots of interesting new activities for children to try which are good fun as well as educational.

Some big boys and girls come to help. They have been making a new rabbit area so that the children can give the rabbits a cuddle. We have also been making a Nature Detectives Headquarters with all sorts of fossils, specimens and pictures for you to look at.

I have been practising rounding up the sheep with Joy because at Easter time the sheep will be having lots of lambs and I need to be able to get them quickly into new fields so that Joy can help them. We have a really old pony called Bonny, we think she is 39! She loves apples and carrots and she loves children giving her a pat and an apple core!

PIP'S PAGE July 2008

Wow, wait till you see our new look out post in the early years area. Ralph and Eddy have started it this week. It is high up in the tree and the view will be amazing. We think that you will be able to see Pendle and Ingleborough. That's if it ever stops raining! There will be proper steps up to it and it will be quite safe for sensible children. We can't wait for it to be finished! It's going to be like Hansel and Gretel's house but high up. We.. hope it will be finished for our open Wednesdays in August (see our events page).

John has finished installing the solar panel for heating the hand washing water. Students from Alder Grange started this project it's all made from recycled materials and is easy to use. It looks very interesting. It's right by my kennel so I've been watching it all happen.

My puppies have all gone now, it is so peaceful but when Joy has no time to play I do quite miss them.

We are always trying to encourage schools that come to the farm to be thoughtful about the packed lunch waste. We try and get the children and teachers to sort it all into different containers for different items. Sometimes if the children have been very excitable by lunchtime the teachers haven't enough energy to get the children sorting. Last week Thorn school from Bacup came they were the best sorters we have ever had and they just ‘did' it. They had obviously been to a ‘green' school and were well practised. Well done to you!

Some of you that visited the farm several years ago may remember the home made wind turbine that we had. Well it wore out and had to be dismantled so at present we are collecting together materials that we need to get it going again.

The larger wood burner is being installed in the lunch and learn room so that whatever the weather we can be warm. Hope to see you in August

Love from Pip