May 2022 – May Day is under-way! - Oakbrook Community Farm

Hello! April is behind us and the growing season is well underway. Here’s our May newsletter with news including:

An update on our family nature play days
Construction of more fencing underway
Stroud Micro Dairy’s work to protect soil health
An opportunity to get involved in plans for the Haven

Please read on for more… starting with our upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

On Saturday 21st May and Saturday 11th June

we will be holding our monthly volunteer days. Meet us outside the dairy at 10 am or join in on the Haven field any time until 2 pm. All welcome!

In May and June

we have the final 4 sessions of our Family Nature Play Days (More info below)

We are still keen to hear from anyone able to give us a hand with our website and social media. This could be a small amount of coaching and doesn’t need to be a long term commitment – let us know if you can share these skills!

An update from the OCBS Board of Directors

Whilst the long process of getting our barn construction underway still continues, our amazing volunteer team have been supporting the Stroud Micro Dairy to install new fencing on the South side of the farm. Once completed these fences will enable twice daily movement of cattle which in turn leads to better pasture management, in addition to making it easier for pedestrians by removing some of the current electric fencing.

We’re thrilled that Haven bookings are increasing as more and more people learn about this wonderful sanctuary. Remember you can hire the Haven exclusively from £10 per hour for a private booking or £5 for community groups. We appreciate you sharing this information with anyone looking for a space as Haven income helps us cover the costs of running the farm. You don’t need a booking to visit the Haven; when it is not reserved, the Haven is a free resource for all to enjoy – we encourage you to come and spend time here!

Our thanks to everyone who came along to our digital AGM at the end of March. It was truly heartwarming to remember all the progress made in the last year and share plans of the exciting things to come! Although the lack of April showers this year is cause for concern, we are inspired by the dedication and ingenuity of our farming tenants and look forward to the season ahead.

Our Family Nature Play Days: “lovely, fun and peaceful”!

We are just over half way through our Family Nature Play Days, funded by the National Lottery. The feedback from the first sessions which took place during the Easter holidays was overwhelmingly positive. Families enjoyed spending time on the farm; and it was a first visit to Oakbrook for most of the participants.

We still have spaces available on the final upcoming sessions which are scheduled for: Sunday 15th, Monday 30th and Tuesday 31st May and Wednesday 1st June. Please share with any families you know who might be interested!

Booking is essential, please visit the Into Nature Booking Page

Tenant update from Stroud Micro Dairy

The pioneer share offer we launched last December closed last week, having hit our target of £225,000! This was an amazing response demonstrating the commitment of our supporters to sustainably produced dairy. Though still in early stages, our plans to introduce oat milk production have started well. This enables us to satisfy a broader demand for customers thus improving business resilience. We have had 8 new calves arrive this year so far and the herd are happy and healthy. As ever we are taking measures to improve the health of our soil. In the long run this will mean the ground will be more resilient to dry Spring conditions such as the ones we are currently experiencing, as well as other immeasurable benefits.

Would you like to join our Haven Steering Group?

Day-to-day the direction of the farm is over seen by the OCBS Board of Directors. However, the Haven Steering Group is a broader team of volunteers who are involved in directing developments specifically relating to our Haven field and the nature corridor.

These spaces are the heart of the farm, where our mission to help local people connect with nature comes into being. As such we want to invite more people to take part in shaping their growth – and encourage you to join in!

Some upcoming projects and challenges we hope to explore are (including but not limited to):

Compost toilet management (construction nearly finished)
Tree work – removal of final ash and how to replant
Potential for a gravity pump to feed water to the dairy – a complex engineering feat!
Camping on the field as an income source for the haven

The commitment can be completely flexible depending on your interests and available time. Until now this group has been small, however our hope and vision is that in the future it can be driven by those involved – so if you have an idea you would like to bring to fruition, we would love to hear about it.

With thanks and best wishes for a fruitful year

Leigh, on behalf of Oakbrook Community Benefit Society