Pip's Pages
Introducing Pip!
Hello boys and girls, my name is Pip and I live with Farmer Joy at Cronkshaw Fold Farm.
Our farm is a really special place because as well as all the animals on the farm Joy has lots of other interesting things. The boys and girls can learn about the countryside and food and farming by playing and exploring.
The farm is in a beautiful place up on the hills above Helmshore village. It is so good to breathe the lovely fresh air and look at the beautiful views of the countryside. Joy has made lots of interesting new activities for children to try which are good fun as well as educational.
PIP'S PAGE October 2012
Pips post to Dot ( Dorothy, Joy and Mac’s daughter) Who takes me for big walks and keeps me well behaved and is in Lapland working at the Arctic Survival Trust and Hetta Huskies .
Hello Dot ,boys and girls, despite the rain more than 145mm in September. We are all well.
We have had a marvellous time at the farm. Farmer Joy invited the grass artist Joanne Kaar to the farm to work with visiting children. They had a wonderful time learning about Angus McPhee who grew up in South Uist in the Scottish Hebrides. He was a patient in a sanatorium recovering from leaving the quiet calm of the island of his birth and the trauma of fighting in the first world war. Angus made ‘simmans’ ,which are ropes and strings of grass that crofters used to thatch their houses. He made long lengths into garments and magical hats. He didn’t do anything with the items he just left them in the asylum woodlands and grounds.
Joanne showed the children how to make the simmans and how to make the little dog that sometimes cheeky farmers in the highlands put on the barn roof of a lazy farmer who was last to gather his harvest in. The children paraded their dogs like at Crufts dog show!
We had the ‘Rossendale Foodie walking festival’ walk called, the Cheese Breeze here for families here are some of the children on the bridleway near Robin Hood’s Well. We had a lovely time tasty delicious Lancashire Creamy and Lancashire crumbly cheese. Next year we all thought we should have a ‘Jacob’s Join’ lunch afterwards not just a taste of cheese! The Shepherd’s strollers with Stuart had another lovely fine walk followed by a typical shepherd’s tea boiled eggs and dippy soldiers, sherry trifle and lemon drizzle cake. Some of us had seconds of trifle as a few ladies went home. Joy wouldn’t let me lick the dishes!!! I had to stay indoors as I do get too excited sometimes.
We have been harvesting tomatoes, onions and the last of the runner beans. Joy and Cia have made some delicious chutney to have with their lunches during the winter. Next year Joy wants to grow more marrows as the chutney recipe needs lots of them. Our pumpkins are enormous and we have 8 now growing on our muck heap. They are turning a beautiful orange.
Don't forget boys and girls that Cronkshaw Fold Farm is now on Facebook.
Visit our page at
www.Facebook.com/cronkhawfoldfarm
Point at the centre of a picture
and click to open a new window
containing an enlargement
of that picture.