The Community Farm hosted a Harvest Moon Festival which featured a magnificent evening of Manx music, dance and food for all the family. Around 80 visitors were also entertained with a good old-fashioned ceilidh featuring Manx artists, and a hog roast. Dot Tilbury MBE was compere for the evening, and well-known livestock auctioneer Peter Quayle presided over a mhelliah auction of local produce. A total of ?1,345 was raised with all of the funds going towards projects run at the Community Farm, which is a charitable project of The Children’s Centre. Farm Team Leader Chrissy Cannell said:
“A big thank you to everyone who contributed to the festival – it was a great evening and we’re delighted with the fundraising total. We have a busy schedule at the Community Farm in the next few weeks, and we’re hoping that some of the visitors who came to the farm for the first time for the Harvest Moon Festival will come back and visit again.”
There’s a Willow Weaving Workshop with John ‘Dog’ Collister on Saturday October 18 from 10am to 12.30pm where you can learn how to make a willow basket. Suitable for anyone aged 12 and over, it costs ?15 per person. Places are limited and must be booked in advance by phoning the farm team on 610540 or emailing farm@thechildrenscentre.org.im.
On October 25 – weather permitting – the farm will host its last Open Afternoon this year from 2pm to 4pm. Ideal for families, the event offers a chance to see all of the farm animals, including sheep, pigs, donkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, cats and a dog. Visitors can also take a look the vegetable patch, herb garden and a conservation area and find out about all of the farm’s projects.
The farm is based at Wallberry Farm on the Carnane Estate off the Old Castletown Road in Douglas, and is unique in the Isle of Man. Working with schools and groups across the Island, the farm aims to provide a nurturing and educational environment to help people grow whilst reconnecting with the countryside. To find out more about all of the exciting events coming up at the Community Farm, check out the farm blog at http://thecommunityfarm.wordpress.com.
Photo - Scenes from the Harvest Moon Festival held at the Community Farm.
