A Summer to Remember at Brearley Hall

This summer at Brearley Hall brought a bumper harvest of tomatoes and pumpkins, new beehives, wildlife pond activities for children in care, and dedicated volunteers like Alex and Logan. Looking ahead, Brearley Hall is launching Animal Care classes and a Year 10 gardening programme with a polytunnel for growing fresh produce.

What a summer it's been at Brearley Hall. Between the sunshine, the rain, and everything in between, our gardens, animals, and young people have kept us busier than ever. It hasn't been without its challenges, but the rewards have far outweighed the hard work.

What did the garden and harvest look like this summer?

Our vegetable patch has been thriving. Tomatoes ripened in abundance, and our pumpkins have grown to an impressive size ahead of autumn. Joel, one of our regulars, has been busy turning the tomato surplus into delicious homemade pasta sauces, which has been a lovely way to make sure nothing goes to waste. Watching a season's worth of hard graft turn into something so tasty is exactly the kind of reward that keeps us motivated through the trickier growing months.

How are the animals doing at Brearley Hall?

Our pigs and chickens have had a good summer, settling into their routines and providing plenty of entertainment for visitors and children alike. We're especially excited about our new beehives, which have been a wonderful addition to the grounds. Work is also progressing on the barn that will soon house our goats, and we can't wait to welcome them properly once it's complete.

What summer activities did children in care take part in?

This summer has been packed with hands-on learning for the children in our care. Highlights include:

• Building a wildlife pond from scratch, giving children a real sense of achievement and a closer connection to nature

• Making seed bombs to encourage wildflowers around the grounds

• Creating bee drinkers and butterfly feeders to support local pollinators

• Pond dipping to discover the tiny creatures living in our new wildlife pond

• Campfire cooking sessions, always a firm favourite among the children

These activities aren't just fun. They teach patience, responsibility, and a genuine appreciation for the natural world, all things we hold dear at Brearley Hall.

Who has been helping out at Brearley Hall this summer?

None of this would be possible without our incredible community of helpers. Alex has been an absolute star, giving up weekends to care for the animals and make sure they're well looked after even when the rest of us are off duty. We'd also like to give a special mention to Logan, one of our newer children in care, who has thrown himself into helping around the grounds with real enthusiasm. It's moments like these, watching a child find their confidence through hands-on work, that remind us why we do what we do.

What's coming up next at Brearley Hall?

We're looking ahead to an exciting new school year. We're launching Animal Care classes, giving children the chance to learn practical skills in looking after our pigs, chickens, and soon-to-arrive goats. Alongside this, our Year 10 gardening programme is getting a serious upgrade with a new polytunnel and growing container. These will allow us to produce fresh salads and mushrooms to supply directly to the school kitchens, giving students a real taste (quite literally) of where their food comes from.

Growing, learning, and caring together

It's been a summer of hard work, small triumphs, and plenty of muddy hands, and we wouldn't have it any other way. As we move into the new school year, we're excited to build on everything we've achieved, from the garden to the goat barn, and to keep giving our children in care the chance to learn, grow, and thrive alongside our animals and green spaces. Here's to another year of good, honest work at Brearley Hall.