Community Fund – Batley Girls’ High School – April Update

The Howden Clough Farm shop is now open two days a week Tuesday & Thursday lunch and this should carry on for several weeks for the early season vegatable plants.

 

The in house interest and sales have been relatively good. We have been able to develop and maintain interest both to the farm and shop activity with the year 7 group of students and that is of great encouragement to me.

 

The chickens are producing more eggs with the daylight hours on the increase. The changed roosting habit allowing them a more free range access to the coupe instead of putting them away as we leave the school at the end of the day certainly has paid dividends. So far things are looking good and Mr. Fox has still not paid a visit. The quail are now laying and have recently been moved into their summer home.

 

However last months incubating duck eggs produced three healthy ducklings, of mixed variety, only for the local carrion crow to attack and remove the first hatched and the following day attacked again to kill one of the hen chicks.The two happy chaps in the attached picture had just asked the question “who came first”?

 

The community allotment and gardens are pictured having received the upgrade with raised beds and improved access for the local residents and tenants.
I have recently started working with students Charlotte & Sky,on an educational level, on a farm project. We are building a “Bug Bed & Breakfast”, the photograph shows the basic design and with further support the students should be able to record the project as being complete.

 

Our red leaf lettuce crop was picked & delivered by Charlotte & Sky to the schools canteen just last week, another great result.

 

The settled weather has allowed potatoes, onion, garlic, beans, peas, squash, to be planted out with tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, various herbs and flowers along with salad crops all progressing well but still under cover.