What we do at Sheep Shed Jersey

It may seem like a buzz word of the moment but sustainability doesn’t have to be too hard.

On the farm we have tried to re- use and repurpose as much as we can, we have transformed old tractor tyres to planters, refurbished an old greenhouse, made pallets into play areas and we save all of our chicken manure for the allotment.

For our parties we have made sure there is minimal waste, we use re-usable table wear, cups and plates. Recycle as much as we can such as cans, packaging and have reduced plastic waste by using paper party bags and giving the children educational and re-usable party favours.

Over the years we have planted miles of hedgerow, which has created a habitat for our native birds and some exotic visitors and we do not treat the farm like a country manor, we let some banks grow long for birds and insects, we grow lots of pollinator plants for the bees and very often feed the caterpillars or rabbits for the season with our veg.

We are not an organic farm but try to use natural insecticides and methods before using chemicals as a final resort.

Before 2020 we had dabbled in a bit of gardening, grown a few bits in pots but nothing major. We are essentially just a couple of lockdown gardeners.

Paris had always wanted a greenhouse so in 2021 we were very kindly gifted a greenhouse that needed a lot of refurbishment. We grew a few bits in here and planted up in tubs and pots around the farm yard and installed a small veg plot in our field. We aimed to do pick your own pumpkin this year but hadn’t really got the weeding levels right and it looked like someone had planted pumpkins in a lawn!

By 2021 we had run out of growing space so for 2022 we created our current allotment area with a bit of temporary netting and had a good go at a growing season. Our team expanded as our very good friends Tim and Tam decided to join us in our allotment adventure. There were successes, we managed to grow Tomatoes properly and a couple of butternut squashes. Children visiting the farm helped us to plant out our pumpkins and they did really well and we picked courgetts and beans all summer long.

Well 2023 is here and the pressure is on, we got a poly tunnel, created proper paths and a designated children’s digging area and now all we need to do is grow stuff! Since February all of our visitors to the farm have been helping us to sow flower and veg seeds and we will see what happens. Watch this space.

Farming, messy play, indoor, outdoor, gardening, comfy sofas for feeding, plenty of free parking, baby changing facilities, high chairs, teas/ coffees/ snacks/ Cake

After opening for children’s parties from May 2022 and so many of you asking if Paris would be starting a playgroup, you finally got her to open in July 2022! After volunteering at another playgroup for 6 years whilst our children were little, Paris has plenty of experience with children of this age and it has been great seeing the farm through their eyes and offering them educational and socialization opportunities within our safe enclosed environment.

Since July our playgroup has evolved and we have let the children lead us in the activities they want to do. Paris has been busy buying lots of new toys and educational tools and we are really like a mini nursery that you get to experience with your child. Most weeks we go out to visit and feed the Sheep and in the summer encourage the children to spend more time outdoors with an increase in outdoor play opportunities. Our allotment is a popular activity with the children and we get them involved with planting seeds, watering and picking fruit and veg.

Paris was lucky enough to grow up for most of her childhood in a rural area and would collect up all the children from surrounding houses and they would go out for the day and explore woodland walks and farm land, damming streams and collecting blackberries. Our children today rarely have that freedom but we hope they can enjoy our spaces and activities and engage with agriculture and nature through our farm.

The exciting thing about playgroup is the children get to experience all of our seasonal activities too and often get a sneak peak of all the new bits

All of our additional events are worked in around our children’s party bookings and we occasionally close for a weekend to make our events extra amazing, have a rest or catch up on jobs! There are a lot of jobs!!!

Lambing & Easter – Spring is here and so are our lambs! Combine Lambs with an Easter Egg hunt, crafts and lots of play opportunities and you have some very happy children. The adults also love asking farmer Laurent lots of questions.

Halloween – Halloween has become a favourite on our families calendar. We decorate the shed from top to toe! A really fun time to spend with friends and family, we go out and take a look at what squash and pumpkins have been grown, dress up, do crafts, have a sweetie hunt and boogie to the best Halloween music.

Christmas – A busy time for anyone’s family but for ours it is extra crazy. Our chickens are in full production and we are busy packing eggs and getting them out to shops across the island but we usually manage to throw in some extra play groups, play sessions and even a little light switch on.

Open Days

Occasionally we just throw in some random open days! We like seeing our playgroup children who have moved on to school and there is always something happening on the farm to join in with whether it is planting seeds, digging veg or harvesting apples.

We hosted our first school farm visits in May this year. The children came up to meet our lambs and took part in some allotment activities with us, they also had a good play in all of our play areas and some stayed for lunch too.

These children also took some plants gifted by us back to their schools to grow over the summer and they have had great joy out of this activity.

The feedback from the teachers is that it was the most relaxed school trip they had ever been on, they loved the safe enclosed spaces, the activities and the fact that everything they needed was on site and close to hand.

We have been lucky enough to secure Community Development Funding from Condor and now have a teaching poly tunnel where we can host schools for allotment activities in all weathers and year around.

We are now on a mission to make sure children from all over our Island get access to agriculture and the countryside!