BROGDALE RE-OPENS FOR EDUCATION VISITS %

Press release – 22nd March 2021

Brogdale Collections in Kent – which is home to the National Fruit Collection comprising over 4,000 varieties of fruit and nut trees – is now ready to take bookings for educational visits. The Charity has put all required Covid-compliant measures in place to ensure that school groups are able to visit.

Debi Adams, Education Officer at Brogdale says: “This is a wonderful time of year for children to visit our orchards. During terms 5 and 6, the blossom will be ending and pupils will be able to see first-hand the various stages of a fruit’s development. With thousands of different trees to study and input from our experienced staff and guides – they’ll enjoy plenty of practical demonstrations and interactive opportunities. Also, for the first time this year, children will be able to pick their own heritage cherries, which we’re sure will prove very popular.”

Brogdale Collections is based near Faversham and works with schools, education institutions and youth groups, offering bespoke module days on site, tailored to the Key Stage 1 and 2 curriculums. Their orchard site of over 150 acres includes an interactive weather station, world music garden, wildlife garden, farmland and nature areas. Visiting children can discover where their food comes from whilst exploring nature, insects, wildlife, food nutrition and the role of weather in growing. Brogdale may also be able to provide funding for transport for visiting schools.

Debi Adams adds: “We are delighted to be opening our doors again for school trips, however if it’s difficult for schools to come to us, then we are very happy to go to them. We can now provide free bespoke outreach sessions within the school setting. Using our specialist knowledge and farming experience, we can work with schools to develop a programme of activities that suits their needs.”