Education

Blackburn’s Farm provides the ideal environment for a Wildlife Education Centre, providing the opportunity for children and adults alike to achieve a better understanding of the natural world, via a hands-on experience.

“Outdoor Learning is essential as it gives children first-hand experience of the world; a chance to become immersed in their environment. That is an opportunity you cannot replicate in a classroom”

– Sarah Doxford, Primary Education.

FURTHER EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

During the last 3 years Blackburns Farm, in partnership with the Wildlife Trust and Royal Horticultural Society, have been conducting regular surveys collecting data on all the plant, bird and mammal activity on the farm, to enable the development of learning programmes.

The Wildlife Education Centre will enable children and adults to participate in activities including the following;

"Blackburns Farm development plans are an excellent opportunity to improve the resources for educational opportunities and research in the key areas of Sustainability, Biodiversity, Environmental Conservation, and Health and Wellbeing. This outstanding initiative would be a Beacon of Excellence, it would be extremely beneficial to the local community. The resources would enhance teaching, learning and development. It would be a wonderful asset and addition to the Fylde Coast providing much improved habitats for flora, fauna and wildlife including rare and protected species. The Education / visitor centre, the farm shop and all the sustainable resources would receive local, regional and national recognition and have so many positive impacts for so many."

Bernard Pendleton - Chairman of Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) North West in Bloom.

GREEN SOCIAL PRESCRIBING PROGRAMME

Alongside benefitting education, the recent pandemic has also highlighted the importance of being outdoors to people’s mental and physical health, as well as the inequality of access to green space.

Blackburns Farm has been working closely with the Wildlife Trust and North West in Bloom to become part of the green social prescribing network and take full advantage of the following focuses;

The planned education centre will be a huge asset to the programme, providing effective support to those in need within our local community.

“It is often said that nature soothes the soul. I certainly find the Remembrance Woods and farmland to be a soothing, relaxing and restorative place. As a former teacher I fully support the vision of Blackburns Farm particularly its plans to establish a Wildlife Education Centre which would prove an excellent opportunity for children to increase their first hand knowledge of the natural world”

– Jo Bracewell, Celebrant.

EDUCATION

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, Fylde only has 2.8% woodland cover, making it one of the poorest performing local authorities in the UK in this respect. The Fylde Council Tree and Woodland Strategy stresses the value of trees to society and encourages the planting of new trees. Following this lead, during the last two years over 1,000 trees have been planted at Blackburn's Farm. In addition it is planned to plant 4.5km of dynamic hedgerow in 2022/23, thereby creating habitat and food source for many local species of insect, birds, and mammals. Most importantly the hedgerow will also contribute to the overall conservation programme at Blackburns Farm. The wintering bird surveys carried out during 2021/22 recorded 15 species of bird that are currently listed on the United Kingdom’s red and amber lists for conservation. Urgent action is required to ensure the survival of these species. The additional hedgerow will play an important role, by providing vital food source
and habitat.