We have been running the Life Giving Skills project since last September and it continues to be a great success. Each week we get children and adults involved with all sorts of farming and horticultural activities, focussing upon sustainable farming on a micro level. To give you a snapshot, last week following the discovery of…
A couple of weeks ago we held our first plant sale and open day and it was a wonderful success. Many people came on what was a beautiful summers day. We sold lots of plants, cakes, and drinks, and the kids had a great time, kayaking on the river and roasting marshmallows over the fire…
This year as a part of the Life Giving Skills project we have started a Jadan Liquid Fertiliser (JLF) micro farm, with the aim of producing all of our plant feeds from materials we produce or grow at Manna. We currently have various plant ‘brews’ going, including comfrey, nettles, and dock leaves – all selected…
We will have lots of plants for sale including: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, French and Runner beans, Courgettes, Peppers, Lettuce, Aubergines, Chillies, Onions, Red Celery, Cabbages, Strawberries, Herbs, Globe artichokes, Dwarf sunflowers, Luffa, Marigolds, Echinacea, Cosmos, Rudbeckia, and many other varieties. So come and fill a bag, box, or your boot with a ready made garden!
A couple of weeks ago we held our first woodland management day which we hope to repeat later in the year. We had nearly 30 attendees of all ages and they embraced the day with enthusiasm and energy. The children had a tree identification hunt, and then wielding secateurs went off in groups to tackle…
After some dreadful weather at Manna which caused the ewes to hold fire, they finally gave birth just before Easter so we now have 7 bonnie lambs. They have already been held by many children as we hosted 3 activity days at Manna over the holidays. The Smile Project joined us for a day which…
We have had a remarkably busy winter at Manna despite some incredibly cold and wet weeks. Our Winter Gathering thankfully lacked the snow, sleet, and gale force winds that last years offered, which no one missed! Instead this year there were glimpses of blue sky and certainly no minus temperatures so a grand success on…
After the success of our summer activity days we have decided to make this a regular feature during holiday times. During the half term we had great fun in 17 degree sunshine, making lanterns, cooking over the fire pit, and kayaking. It was lovely to have so many familiar faces back as well as families…
The Smile Connect families returned for the second time this summer for another day of creative woodland and river fun. We had a super day and it was lovely to welcome back familiar faces. A big thank you to the JP Morgan volunteers for being a part of the day and helping to make it…
Our All age Fridays have been very popular over the summer with all sorts of creative and bushcraft activities. The weather has obviously been incredible so each week the kids have ended up in the river either on kayaks, a homemade raft, or casting willow fishing rods with the hopes of catching a 20 pounder!…