A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Summer Solstice Open Day and helped make it such a special occasion.
From meeting our wonderful animals and enjoying hands-on encounters to exploring our Forest Story area, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Our education co-ordinator, Rakhi, delighted visitors with a storytelling session, followed by a creative activity where children decorated little calico pouches using crushed flowers.
The experience was rounded off with a song and dance to celebrate the Summer Solstice.
Unfortunately, because of the hot weather, we had to postpone our dog show.
We know many people were looking forward to it, and we will be announcing a new date soon.
We were honoured to welcome the new Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Manzoor Hussain, alongside his assistant, Jo Brown.
As part of the celebrations, we presented awards to some of our outstanding volunteers and community members, including our Young Farmers, who successfully completed their Bronze Awards.
This year, the Mayor presented the George Durham Award, which recognises an adult member of the farm who has made a significant and lasting contribution through dedication, commitment or a particular project.
The award was presented to volunteer gardeners Debbie and Dara Khalad, who work tirelessly to keep our gardens beautiful, productive and inspiring for visitors.
Debbie and Dara are also active members of the local beekeeping association.
They established an apiary near our Forest School area and populated it with rescued bee swarms, helping to boost local biodiversity while creating valuable educational opportunities for visitors.
They are a shining example of the kindness, dedication and hard work that help Wellgate Farm continue to flourish.
We were also delighted to welcome our friend of the farm, Cllr Simon Perry, and Cllr Rubina Siddiqui, who also works for a charity that supports volunteering.
We look forward to working with them both to create even more opportunities for local people through the farm.
Events like these are about so much more than a day out.
They bring people together, create lasting memories, celebrate local achievements and showcase the incredible community spirit that makes our farm such a special place.
We loved seeing families, friends, volunteers, stallholders, supporters and visitors of all ages enjoying everything the day had to offer.
Your support helps us continue providing opportunities for people to connect with animals, nature and one another.
Visit our new website and social media pages for details of the rescheduled Dog Show and other upcoming events.
Stay cool, everyone!
- Lesley Wrenn-Brown is operations manager at Wellgate Community Farm (wellgatefarm.org).
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