Terraverde has proudly donated £20,000 to Farms for City Children over the past 2 years to support their incredible work.
Last week, the Terraverde team visited Wick Court in Gloucestershire, which is one of three working farms run by the brilliant charity Farms for City Children. Nestled in 50 acres of stunning countryside and steeped in over 600 years of history, Wick Court provides a transformative experience for young people from urban areas, offering them the chance to immerse themselves in nature, farming, and outdoor learning.
Why This Matters to Terraverde
At Terraverde, we believe environmental and social challenges are deeply interconnected and that real change happens when people are given the tools and space to learn, connect, and grow. Farms for City Children brings this to life.
Their work aligns closely with Terraverde’s mission to foster:
Environmental education – helping young people understand ecosystems, food systems, and the importance of caring for the land
Equity of access – ensuring all children, regardless of background, can benefit from time in nature and alternative models of learning
Wellbeing and resilience – using the outdoors as a space to nurture mental health, social confidence, and self-belief
With many city children having limited access to nature and outdoor learning, opportunities like these are more important than ever. As climate change continues to affect health, food security, and mental wellbeing, especially in urban areas, we believe it’s essential to invest in programmes that build understanding, resilience, and joy.
On the day of our visit, we joined children from a Manchester primary school, which has been visiting for over two decades. We saw the farm in full swing. Children were:
Tending to pigs, poultry, ponies, and Gloucester cattle
Harvesting vegetables and tasting fresh produce straight from the gardens
Trying their hand at beekeeping and birdwatching
Weaving willow, building dens, and taking part in woodland storytelling
Collecting apples and learning to press and pasteurise juice
Cooking meals with homegrown ingredients
Curling up with books in the cosy farm library
Each day starts early: children rise at 7am and are out feeding animals by 7:30. From then on, they get involved with the daily farm activities and additional learning programmes carefully designed by the team at Farms for City Children.
Specialism in Emotional Wellbeing Wick Court has developed a strong focus on social and emotional wellbeing, working with children who may face challenges at school or in their personal lives. Through hands-on work, children build confidence,
resilience, and a sense of belonging.
From strip grazing to support grass regeneration, to caring for rare-breed Gloucester cattle (whose milk is used in local cheese production), the farm promotes sustainable practices rooted in environmental stewardship.
A Living Classroom Nothing goes to waste here. Children help collect apples over weeks and months, and take part in the entire apple juice-making process - pressing, pasteurising, and bottling juice to be enjoyed in the final days of their stay. Last year, the farm produced seven months’ worth of apple juice.
Huge thanks to Nathalie Ewing for hosting us, and to Stevie Edge-McKee (Farm School Manager) for the warm welcome and insightful tour. We were also fortunate to meet Jo Carr (Farm School Leader - Outdoor Learning & SEMH) and Stuart Cragg (Farm Operations Manager), whose passion and expertise underpin the everyday magic of Wick Court.
The experience leaves a lasting impact. As the team at Wick Court says, this is about “opening children’s eyes to new opportunities” and for many, it’s their first time away from home, first time seeing stars clearly, or first time realising they can thrive outside the classroom.
