SCHOOL VISITS TO YOUR LOCAL NATURE FRIENDLY FARM AT ORLOCK, BANGOR 

Bringing food, farming and nature to life
 

At Ballyboley Dexters, we are delighted to welcome school groups to Orlock Farm through our work with the Sustainable Food Trust and The Harmony Project.
 

Our school visits give children the opportunity to step outside the classroom and experience first-hand how food is produced on a working, nature-friendly farm. Through hands-on activities, exploration and time spent outdoors, pupils can discover the connections between healthy soil, diverse plants, well-cared-for animals, wildlife, food and our own health.
 

Orlock Farm is a 100-acre coastal family farm in County Down and home to Ballyboley Dexters. Here, the Alexander family rear pedigree Dexter cattle using nature-friendly and regenerative grazing practices. The farm is also home to wildflower-rich pastures, ancient hedgerows, an orchard, hens and native Black Irish bee hives.
 

It is a place where children can see farming in action and explore how food production can work alongside nature.

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What will children experience?

Every farm visit is centred around hands-on, experiential learning. Activities can vary depending on the season, weather and the age and curriculum requirements of the group, but may include:

• Exploring the soil and hunting for worms, insects and other minibeasts

• Discovering the importance of healthy soils and how grazing animals play a role in the life of the farm

• Identifying plants, wildflowers and herbs and exploring the diversity of life within our pastures

• Exploring different habitats, including hedgerows and other areas that support wildlife

• Meeting our Dexter cattle and learning about animal welfare and life cycles on the farm

• Discovering rotational grazing and how we manage our cattle and grassland

• Learning about pollination and the important role of bees, including our native Black Irish Bee 

• Taking time to connect with the farm landscape through mindfulness and sensory activities in nature

• Reflecting on where our food comes from and the connections between farming, nature, food and health

• Visits are led by the Alexander family, including Hannah Alexander a Registered Dietitian
   

Learning beyond the classroom

The visits are designed to support learning through real-life experiences and are linked to areas of the Northern Ireland Curriculum, including The World Around Us, Science, Geography, Design and Technology and Personal Development and Mutual Understanding.
 

Children are encouraged to ask questions, investigate, observe and get involved. From getting their hands into the soil to spotting wildlife, meeting the cattle and learning where food comes from, the aim is to make learning memorable.
 

Every child taking part in the Beacon Farms programme also receives a curriculum-linked activity booklet to support their learning before, during and after their visit.
 

A living classroom

We believe there is something particularly powerful about children being able to see for themselves how a farm works.
 

At Orlock Farm, they can follow the connections between the soil beneath their feet, the plants growing in the fields, the insects and wildlife they support, the animals grazing the land and ultimately the food produced from it.
 

Our hope is that every child leaves with a greater understanding of where food comes from, why nature matters in farming and how the choices we make about food can affect both our own health and the health of the planet.

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Some Quotes! 

“Today is just as good as my birthday!”

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“Amazing! This has really enhanced their knowledge of nature. Real farm to fork. It will have a lasting impact!”
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Interested in bringing your class to Orlock Farm?

For more information about school visits, available dates and how to book, please get in touch.

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Email: hello@ballyboleydexters.com

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We can provide further information for teachers, including details of the day's activities, curriculum links, what to bring and farm health and safety information.