Our CEO, Dr Maxwell Ayamba BEM, was invited for a two-day official working visit to the New Forest National Park (NFNP), Brockenhurst, Hampshire, by Alison Barnes, the park’s CEO. Maxwell said it was his first time to visit, and found the NFNP the most culturally diverse of landscapes.

The landscape is quite unique in terms of its history of the Commoners and free-roaming animals and biodiversity. Its uniqueness is in recognition of being a living remnant of medieval England, and at its heart, a commoning system that has shaped the landscape with its historic, cultural and archaeological heritage that most people from minoritised communities in England are not aware of.

The Commoners are ordinary people with an extraordinary commitment to the landscape and culture. The New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society holds annual shows in August during the Bank holiday every year, a spectacular event to watch.

The NFNP was designated on March 1st 2005 as the first English National Park to be created in the 21st Century.

Maxwell said he was taken on tour by the CEO Alison Barnes and Jim Mitchell an experienced Ranger. He was introduced to the exceptional diversity and inclusion community engagement work taking place in collaboration with community partners such as PEDALL  an inclusive cycling initiative that provides cycles suitable for many people who face challenges accessing cycling in the New Forest such as people with profound disabilities from residential homes. The New Forest Voices project, a “The Commoning Voices Story“, is an example of how together subaltern voices have been raised with bold steps taken for everyone to tell their own stories about the landscape. The NFNP Nightjar project, an example of a collaborative project with West African artists from Ghana, who work with schools and community groups exploring migration, transient and dualities of England and West Africa – two different landscapes with a shared history of the Nightjar. Maxwell said he was taken on a night walk accompanied by the CEO of NFNP and Jim Mitchell, Ranger NFNP and two Ghanaian Artists and an African-Caribbean to listen to the soundtrack of the Nightjar which is quite a nocturnal bird that migrates to the forest from West Africa. This demonstrates the cultural heritage shared between two different landscapes – UK and West Africa symbolised by the Nightjar.

Maxwell said he was also taken to meet Spud Works, an arts project working with the NFNP and communities raising awareness of the landscape and its history through the medium of art.

Maxwell said he also met with a representative from the NFNP Youth Board, Hayley Quarinnington who work with community groups by undertaking surveys to gain people’s opinion on nature connection and views about the New Forest. Providing residential weekends through the Cameron Bespolka Trust which works with young people to connect them to nature, called the “Youth for Nature project”. But above all, the Youth Board has a holistic approach to governance of the NFNP, influencing and shaping ideas, challenging power and decision-making. Maxwell also met Hayden Bridgeman – a wonderful Youth Ranger, who undertakes Community Outreach work with refugees and asylum seekers and whose work won a Europac scholarship for her refuge work at the New Forest for championing the project. Hayden added that, EUROPARC is committed to actively seeking to amplify youth voices in its work providing space for young people to champion their voices by making youth voices prominent.

Maxwell said he found the visit very rewarding as the NFNP was indeed leading the way by showing a proactive and inclusive cultural practice which only not recognises but values people’s differences, acknowledging that diversity is about recognising differences. NFNP further acknowledges the benefits of having a range perspectives in decision making and that inclusion is about where people’s differences are valued and used to enable everyone to thrive. Maxwell said he thanks Alison Barnes CEO NFNP and Jim Mitchell and rest of the team for making the visit possible. He noted that there is a lot to discover, learn, and share to make our National Parks inclusive spaces for everyone through our shared heritage.

SEM as part of its ongoing field activities continues to organise Farm visits, supported by Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS),  to raise awareness about farms and farming in the UK. It organised a farm visit for the Sheffield African & District Caribbean Association (SADACCA) women’s group to Whirlow Hall Farm on October 2nd 2024.

Below are some of the women’s reflections:

“For me, it was a day of surprises! Initially, I didn’t know the farm was in Sheffield, and having transportation to take all of us around the fields was sheer joy.
Then, finding they bred Highland Cows (which is a breed I love) and being able to touch and brush a calf made a dream come true and all on our doorstep. Discovering the farm shop, which sold a good variety of produce, and will also have some goat and mutton in the coming months … mmmmm, delicious”.

“It was clear to see the animals are well cared for by the staff, who also looked after us. Finally, finishing our visit, having something to eat and drink in the spacious cafe which had a well varied menu, gave us time to sit and discuss our experiences”.

“As always, I had a lovely time, being out and about with our group. I would like to say again, thank you to Maxwell and Maxine for organising this outing, which was educational as well as pleasurable. Really enjoyed the day very much, and I agree with what Carmen said. I loved brushing the cow. It was so placid. The farmer said it’s because they get to know each other, and so they have a very good temperament. All the animals looked very well cared for. We were very well treated also. I thank Maxwell and Maxine for taking us again. For me the visit to Whirlow Farm was both educational and refreshing. I was surprised at the variety of food being produced and so so happy that the skills are being passed on. The care and attention shown to both animals and people was exemplary”.

“Of course, being out in the fresh air enjoying the beautiful landscape in good company was simply a delight. Thank you Maxwell and Maxine for making all this possible. For me, it was a day of surprises! Initially, I didn’t know the farm was in Sheffield, and having transportation to take all of us around the fields was sheer joy.

“As always, I had a lovely time, being out and about with our group. I would like to say again, thank you to Maxwell and Maxine for organising this outing, which was educational as well as pleasurable. I echo everything that is said by my fellow sisters. It was a very enjoyable trip. And although I’ve been there before, the added treat was taken around the farm in the special buggy and was protected from the weather. I’ve been able to touch the animals and listen to the stories behind all of them. I was also amazed how the farmer could tell us the names of all the cows. I was surprise that the black sheep didn’t mix with the white sheep, I find it quite fascinating!! My highlight was brushing the hairs on that lovely little cow. I shall cherish that memory forever, the turkeys in their pen are so clean and happy looking. And so too are the rest of the animals. The farm shop was a delight to visit. The meat was fresh and organic. Delicious to cook for Sunday dinner. And of course, the well stock café. The lovely peaceful views it’s even better in the summer to go on long walks and pick strawberries. It was a pleasure to visit again, and I’m so glad some of our new members enjoy the visit. Well done, Maxwell and Maxine. Thank you again for a wonderful educational trip”.

National Parks UK Conference 2024

SEM Farm tours during the School Holidays for families from ROSHNI

As part of activities marking the this year’s Summer School holidays, Sheffield Environmental Movement (SEM) organised a number of farm tours for families from ROSHNI to Whirlow Hall Farm.

Funding was made possible by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) which has been supporting SEM take minoritised communities to the Yorkshire Agricultural Show every year.

The farm tours which were led by Ashley Malia, Contract Farm Manager, Whirlow Hall Farm involved sessions around links between the environment, farming and access to the countryside.

It also involves talks on farm diversification, regenerative grazing, herbal leys, species of livestock used, breeds, why and how they fit into Whirlow Hall Farm’s farming system. The groups were also shown around the various livestock breeds on the farm such as the Scottish Highland Cattle, other breeds, sheep, pigs among others. 

Ashley also talked to the groups about what happens on the farm seasonally, life cycles, wildlife on the farm, where food comes from, foods in season, sustainable food, animal welfare and careers on the farm.

The older members of the groups who were all women from South East Asia spoke about their visit to Whirlow Hall Farm as taking them back to their home countries of birth, where they lived in the rural countryside and undertook subsistence farming as a source of livelihood.

Only one child out of all the children who attended the farm tours has ever been taken on a school visit to Whirlow Hall Farm, otherwise none have been on a farm”.