Saturday 2 November 2013

11.00am until 3.00pm

Come along to the Scary Scarecrow Fun Day but be prepared to be scared!

There will be lots to do and see including face painting, bat crafts, apple bobbing, whack the rat, a trick or treat trail and of course you will be able to come and see all the scarecrows and judge which is best. 

Don’t forget to enter your own scarecrow, its really easy. Just make a scarecrow and bring it to the Farm by 4.00pm on Wednesday 30th October.

If you need a bit of help with your scarecrow there will be scarecrow building workshops running on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th October from 11.00am to 3.00pm.

Your scarecrows will need to be super scary as well as circus themed.

Good Luck with your entries!

Two weeks ago, Farm Staff and Volunteers were very upset by some bad news.  Early on Saturday morning Errol, one of our alpacas was found lying in the field very severely injured.  His injuries were so severe the vet had no alternative but to put Errol to sleep.

A dog collar was found nearby in the field and Errol’s injuries suggest he was attacked by a dog.

At MVUF dogs have always been welcome and the majority of visitors act responsibly by keeping their dog on a lead at all times and under close control.  The tragic and fatal incident suffered by Errol reinforces the request that all dogs must be on a lead at all times and we ask that visitors respect this request.

Firstly on May 15th at 10am we will be hosting the first Exploring Enterprise Event. For people aged 16-25 who are interested in becoming self-employed for more details click the link below or visit our Event on facebook

Leeds Exploring enterprise flyer option A

Also on October 5th we have the Hands on for Habitat Heroes Event which will be ‘Hands on for Crayfish and Grass Snakes’ click the link for further info or again visit the Event on our facebook page

habitatheroesflierrevisedforemail

Places for both events are limited and are allocated on a’ first come , first served’ basis so if your interested get applying and we hope to see you at one of the events soon

Spring is definitely on the way as we start to see the arrival of Lambs on the Farm. Come and visit us this half term to say hi.

Congratulations to our President

Founder Member Robert Collins has been an active volunteer at Meanwood valley Urban Farm for the last 34 years.  In 1978 when the Civic Trust invited members to volunteer to help establish a farm at Meanwood Robert did not hesitate and since those early days he has held every position on the Management Committee.  As honorary solicitor, Robert advised the Farm until his retirement and he named it an ‘Urban Farm’.

Robert has seen the Farm develop from a few acres of waste ground and open fields to the 24 acre Farm of stock fields, woodland, market garden, natural habitats, EpiCentre and other buildings you now see.  Originally completely dependent on volunteers, for many years the Farm has employed paid staff who are responsible for the Farm’s current successes.

Robert is pleased to see the introduction of a new Volunteer programme intended to support further develop the Farm with the assistance of an enlarged group of volunteers.

In the New Year Honours List Robert’s appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire recognised his significant and invaluable volunteer work for the Farm over many years.

When asked how he felt on hearing the news, in his usual quiet and unassuming way he said

“I am very proud at being awarded an MBE and feel it is received by me on behalf of all volunteers at the Farm.”

Robert, as President, remains committed to the future of the Farm and continues to visit every week to do his share of work in the gardens.

Congratulations Robert, from all staff and volunteers at the Farm, on this well deserved award.

Rosemont Pharmaceutics recently completed one of the Business Challenge Days at the Farm. There is a full article on their newsletter, click  Rosemont Newsletter_October 2012

Here at MVUF we are currently developing the area between the beck and the cycle way into a wet woodland. Wet woodlands typically occur in poorly drained soil in river valleys. Over the years they’ve become increasingly rare due to drainage so that the land to be used for other purposes, (housing, roads etc). This is unfortunate as wet woodlands are actually very important; a healthy wet woodland can help to reduce the risk of rivers flooding, (extremely relevant in Yorkshire) by slowing down and storing water, as well as being a rich and diverse habitat!

Trees commonly found in wet woodlands including alder, birch and willows, some of which already present on this piece of land. Other plants include a vast array of herbaceous plants, fungi and mosses that thrive in this boggy, water logged environment. Here at the farm we hope to encourage the colonisation of some of these plants naturally as well as planting other. The array of plants furan found in wet woodland offers a unique habitat for a diversity of insects, including species of beetle which are currently rare in the UK. Wet woodlands also offer ideal habitats for otters and pipstrelle bats, as well as a large number of birds, including the endangered marsh tit.