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The Garden Project was established four years ago to provide a unique and stimulating practically based teaching environment. The aims are to enhance the learning experience of students from the Academy of Foundation Studies and Skills for Life at The Bournemouth and Poole College.

We currently teach over 150 students a week from age 14 to 65. Our sessions include: Horticulture level 1 and 2; Gardening; Chicken Care; Agricultural/ Horticultural building work in stone, brick, wood. We also cover aspects of woodwork, fencing, environmental and conservation awareness. These practical programmes offer our students a unique learning experience which helps students build the confidence to succeed.

We sell all of our produce - eggs, vegetables, plants, timber products and the proceeds from these sales help towards supporting the Garden Project at High Mead Community Farm.

Many of our students have a learning disability and/or difficulty including behavioural and mental health issues. The students are supported by a range off qualified staff enabling them to gain maximum benefit from the small class sizes and learning environment of High Mead Community Farm.

Development of The Farm

Due to the success of the project we outgrew our previous site and moved to High Mead Community Farm in January 2009. We have registered as an Eco School and we follow organic principles, such as recycling as many materials as possible and keeping our poultry in a truly free range environment.

As part of our drive for reducing our carbon footprint we would like to be able to plant an orchard of mixed fruit trees of old English varieties, which in time will provide income to help sustain the project. In addition we would like to plant traditional non fruiting trees to act as a wind break and to provide a natural habitat for birds, insects etc. We would like to plant about 200 trees in total. Part of the orchard area would be an espalier orchard which would make it accessible to those students who use a wheelchair.

We have also introduced six bee hives to aid the natural pollination of our plants, crops and flowers.

Poultry Keeping for Beginners - Free taster session

To find out more click here.

Further information

For further information please contact Dave Pollard on 01202 579329

Bournemouth and Poole College
High Mead Community Farm
Ham Lane
Ferndown
BH22 9DR