Students at New College Worcester (NCW), a national residential school for young people aged 11–19 who are blind or vision impaired, have been enjoying regular visits to the farm, taking part in weekly trips every Thursday as part of their enrichment activities.
The visits take place at Bonterre, a not-for-profit community farm based just outside Worcester. Bonterre is a smallholding that provides outdoor, nature-based learning experiences designed to support wellbeing, confidence and personal development.
Set in a peaceful rural environment, the farm offers a wide range of hands-on activities, including horticulture, animal care, cooking and rural crafts. These activities create valuable opportunities for students to build independence, develop practical skills and connect with the natural world in a meaningful way.
Bonterre specialises in providing alternative education through outdoor learning, supporting young people to grow in confidence and social skills while working collaboratively and trying new experiences.
During their visits, NCW students have embraced every aspect of farm life—from meeting animals and helping with daily jobs, to getting involved in planting, harvesting and creative outdoor tasks. They have particularly enjoyed building their confidence when handling animals, getting to know guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens and even having the opportunity to bottle feed lambs. Students have also taken pride in helping to plant and care for the vegetable garden. The calm and inclusive environment allows students to explore at their own pace, making the experience both enjoyable and accessible.
Students have also been developing valuable practical skills, with Oscar even learning how to mow the grass using a mower. In addition, NCW students have taken on a mentoring role, supporting younger students during the sessions and doing a sterling job in helping to guide and encourage others.
“It’s been fantastic to see our students grow in confidence during these visits. The hands-on nature of the sessions, combined with the calm and supportive environment at Bonterre, has allowed them to develop new skills, build independence and take real pride in what they are achieving. The mentoring element has also been wonderful to see, with our students stepping up to support others with such enthusiasm.”
A big thank you to Bonterre for providing such a welcoming and enriching experience for our students.
