Our Farm

Our school farm has been on the Academy site for over 70 years, contributing a significant role in our local community. 

Animals on the farm include cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and a selection of poultry. We also have our 37-year-old donkey, named Woolly. We even have our own guinea pigs who support our nurture provision.  They are called Teddy and Bear. 

Young Farmers

You can become a Young farmer at NLL.

Young farmers learn skills such as animal husbandry, animal welfare, stockmanship and showing techniques and also life skills, confidence, friendships and team building.

How to access the farm

Forms can be collected from our Farm Manager, Lorraine Dent. 

Young farmers also pay a membership/levy to cover their insurance on young farmers days ie shows, visits etc.

Events

The young farmers club don’t only go out for trips and visits we also welcome the community to the farm. We do this by holding our annual Fun at the Farm weekend.  This is a fantastic opportunity for the community to access the farm at New Line Learning Academy and not only see the animals, but to also interact with them. Being in an urban area we feel that this has opened many pathways to children that have then become young farmers and this led them to careers within the agricultural industry. 

Awards we have gained

Young farmers have gained the opportunity to take part in the Aberdeen Angus Young Development Awards Programme, in which some of our members have travelled to Stoneleigh, Scotland, Ireland and Ardingly to take part in the finals. The finals are split into different age groups. They are then judged in different categories these include stock judging, a panel interview, clipping an animal (this is section is just for the seniors), dressing an animal and the final task showing. We have done well in all of these finals, winning several of the categories.

The young farmers also take part in different competitions held at  Rally days and won the dance group which lead them to the finals in Torquay.

We have also achieved winning the Overall competition at Kent Show.

Young farmers have qualified for Sheep Young handler of the year at Newbury/Hertfordshire Shows for the RBST.

Several members have also qualified to compete in the young handler of the year competition, this is held at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. Members have competed in both the sheep and cattle section, to have the privilege to compete against the best of the best, the members have to qualify at various agricultural shows throughout the year.

Members also take part in craft competitions these vary massively from biscuit decorating, photo competitions, making a Christmas wreath from recycled materials to building scarecrows!

We also hold our own Awards night to present trophies for Young farmer of the Year. Members member of the Year. Stockman of the Kent Show etc. After the awards the young farmers have a party for all they have achieved over the year.