Courses / Workshops
We run a variety of one day courses and workshops for people wanting to find out more about keeping their own animals.
Please see below for dates and details of workshops for 2022.
Please email Ali on ali@gillardchew.plus.com to reserve your places.
DATES FOR 2022:
The Good Life? - Smallholding Experience Day
Tbc 2023 10am to 3pm £40pp (14 years +)
Many people dream of having a small farm or smallholding and there are so many wonderful aspects of keeping livestock and producing your own food - but is the grass greener on the other side of the fence? Or is the poop just deeper?! This day is an introduction to smallholding - a chance to find out some of the things involved in keeping production animals and experience the nature of smallholding with plenty of opportunities to discuss its pro's and cons - the good, the bad and the ugly...
CONTENT:-
This will be an informal day with lots of time to ask questions and experience being around the animals - but there are a few more formal things that need to be considered:
- Red Tape - rules and regulations governing livestock keeping (just an intro!)
- Can you hack it? - life in the slow lane?!; animal welfare/human welfare; commitment - cover and costs; poop, pus, needles, blood and maggots (veterinary issues); fairweather farming?
- Livestock - which? - produce; handling; breeding or rearing; relative time, money and problems!; facilities (sheep, pigs, goats, cattle, poultry)
- Why do it?! - some positivity!
Introduction to Lambing Workshop
Tbc 2022 9.30am to 4pm £50pp (14 years +)
Lambing is our favourite time of year! If you're thinking of breeding sheep or are a novice lamber wanting to learn more, then this day could be useful!
Details to follow
An Introduction to Keeping Pigs
Saturday 19th November 2022
9.30am to 4 pm £50pp (14 years +)
Details to follow
An Introduction to Breeding Pigs
Sunday 20th November 2022
9.30am to 4 pm £50pp (14 years +)
Details to follow
An Introduction to Goat Keeping
TBC 2023 9.30am to 4pm £50pp (14 years +)
Details to follow
Animal Training Workshop
TBC 2022 9.30am to 4 pm £50pp (14 years +)
Details to follow
An Introduction to Sheep Keeping
Saturday 5th November 2022
9.30am to 4pm £50pp (14 years +)
Details to follow
Genetics for Animal Breeders
Tbc 2022 9.30am to 4 pm £50pp (14 years +)
Details to follow
FEES, T's and C's:
- Fees included in details (as above) for each course / workshop
- Age restrictions for participants may apply (see course details) and places strictly limited to allow for optimal learning opportunities
- Participants under the age of 18 years, where applicable, must be accompanied by a fee-paying adult who will be responsible for the child's Health and Safety at all times whilst on farm.
- A deposit of 50% of the course fee is required to confirm places on any course. Deposit refundable if course is cancelled.
- The right to cancel any course is reserved (deposits paid will be refunded).
- Mariners Farm is a private, working farm. We reserve the right to refuse admission.
- The health, safety and welfare of humans and animals on farm is paramount - anyone jeopardising the health, safety or welfare of humans or animals on farm will be required to leave (fees will not be refunded).
Unless otherwise stated, all workshops etc will be led by Ali who has run Mariners Farm for over 15 years, taking it over from her father. Ali not only has a wealth of experience managing the husbandry of the livestock but also has 25 years experience teaching animal management and science in FE and HE and is a qualified teacher in post-compulsory education.