THE NEST FARMS | OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
As we reach the end of another busy half term at The Nest, we’ve been making the most of everything autumn has to offer! From baking and getting creative to enjoying the outdoors and welcoming some new arrivals, we’ve certainly managed to pack a lot into the last few weeks.
It’s been lovely to see our young people getting involved, trying new things and making the most of their time together on the farm.
From Pumpkin Patch to Pumpkin Muffins!
There’s something really rewarding about growing your own food, and even better when you get to turn it into something delicious! Our young people have been busy baking pumpkin muffins using pumpkins grown right here in our polytunnel. From caring for our crops to harvesting and cooking with them, it’s a lovely way to see the rewards of all that hard work.
We’ve also been making our own pizzas, giving everyone the chance to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy something they’ve made themselves.
Autumn Walks and Marshmallows by the Fire
We’ve been making the most of the beautiful autumn surroundings with lovely walks around the farm, enjoying the fresh air and changing colours. Our wooded area has also been put to good use, with time spent gathered around the fire, toasting marshmallows and enjoying being outdoors together.
Sometimes it’s these simple moments, away from the usual distractions, that give our young people the chance to slow down, chat and enjoy each other’s company.
Getting to Know Our ANTs!
Our younger group have been getting creative while exploring something really important – Automatic Negative Thoughts, or ANTs for short! We all experience those little negative thoughts that can creep into our minds, sometimes making us doubt ourselves or worry about things before they’ve even happened.
Our young people made their very own ANTs while learning how to recognise these thoughts, challenge them and find ways to turn them into something more positive. It was a fun and creative way to explore how our minds work and learn useful techniques for managing tricky thoughts.
Finding Calm with Yoga Jo
We were delighted to welcome Yoga Jo back to The Nest for another lovely session. This time, we took inspiration from nature and worked together to create an amazing mandala using flowers, leaves and other natural materials.
As we created our beautiful design, Jo encouraged everyone to think about their breathing, grounding themselves and being present in the moment. Taking time to slow down, connect with nature and focus on the here and now can be such a valuable way to calm busy minds. The finished mandala was absolutely beautiful!
Cooking Through the Ages with Bea
We were very pleased to welcome Bea to The Nest for some fantastic cooking sessions. One group travelled back in time, making pancakes using a very old recipe, traditional cooking methods and traditionally milled flour.
It was a great opportunity to discover how food was prepared in the past, while experimenting with different ingredients, flavours and textures. The finished pancakes were enjoyed with orange and nutmeg!
Another group got into the Halloween spirit by making some brilliantly spooky “ghoul bread”, with some rather interesting faces appearing from the oven! Throughout the sessions, Bea encouraged our young people to explore different tastes and textures, try new things and think about the food we eat.
A huge thank you to Bea for sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with us. Everyone had a wonderful time, and we certainly enjoyed the results!
More New Arrivals at The Nest!
It wouldn’t be a Nest newsletter without some animal news! We’ve welcomed some new guinea fowl to the farm, adding even more characters to our growing animal family.
We also have a rather unusual new resident – Shelly the axolotl! With her delicate pink colouring and feathery gills, Shelly is certainly something a little different from our usual farm animals. We’re looking forward to our young people learning more about these fascinating creatures and getting to know our newest arrival.
Giving Back to Our Community
It’s always lovely to see the confidence and skills our young people develop at The Nest being put into practice beyond the farm. We are really proud that one of our young people has been helping and volunteering at Fram Fridge in Framlingham, giving their time to support others in the local community.
Fram Fridge has been incredibly supportive of The Nest and our young people, so it’s particularly special to see that support coming full circle. It’s also been wonderful to see the community getting behind Fram Fridge and supporting their open days.
Opportunities like this are such positive steps for our young people, helping them build confidence, independence and a sense of purpose while making a real difference to others. A big well done – we’re very proud!
Looking Ahead...
As we head into the next half term, we’re looking forward to plenty more activities, new experiences and opportunities for our young people to learn, grow and enjoy their time at The Nest. With the seasons changing and winter just around the corner, there’s still lots to look forward to on the farm.
Thank you, as always, to our wonderful young people, staff, volunteers, families and supporters who make The Nest such a special place.
We hope everyone has enjoyed a well-deserved half-term break, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another busy few weeks!