The team at M&S Haverfordwest joined 5,000 of their colleagues across the UK by taking part in a community volunteering drive last week (18-24 June). The team created beautiful garden spaces at the most westerly farm in Wales – Farms for City Children’s Lower Treginnis Farm.
Throughout the week, M&S colleagues across the nation committed 40,000 hours to volunteering at 685 local projects that make a difference to the communities they serve. Every project had a common goal, which is to bring people together.
In Haverfordwest, the team rolled up their sleeves to create planting beds and walled gardens around the buildings at Lower Treginnis farm that are used by thousands of inner city primary schoolchildren a year, helping them to understand the process from farm to fork.
Farms for City Children provides the opportunity for over 3,200 primary school children to spend a week at one of three farms for seven days of muck and magic. The children are involved in the daily running of the farm, learning hands-on where their food comes from, the importance of caring for animals, the value of working co-operatively as a team, as well as enjoying a week of being completely screen-free and immersing themselves in nature. Whilst there, the honorary farmers experience a week packed full of activities that give a real sense of achievement, the effects of which remain with them long after they have left.
The team from M&S Haverfordwest was keen to partner with a project that plays a significant role in supporting their local community and beyond – Farms for City Children provides a unique opportunity to help primary school children from across the UK to immerse themselves in country life.
Jane Douglas, Store Manager at M&S Haverfordwest:
“We’ve had a fantastic week, coming together and lending a hand to Farms for City Children. Volunteering makes a profound difference to communities, and we believe that lots of small actions from lots of people, can have a lasting impact on society and help improve lives, as well as our own wellbeing. Many children who live in cities may never visit a farm or learn about the journey of food, and it’s so important that projects such as Farms for City Children provide invaluable education and insight to young people.”
Lower Tregennis Farm is over 700 years old and is run by Farm School Manager Dan Jones. Dan originally visited the farm as part of a school trip, and when the job came up to manage the programme he packed up and moved to West Wales to pursue his dream.
Dan Jones, Farm School Manager at Farms for City Children’s Lower Treginnis Farm, said:
“All of us at Lower Treginnis Farm are absolutely delighted that M&S has helped us transform the garden areas on the farm. This is going to make a huge difference and create safe and beautiful spaces where our visiting children can sit, play and relax. It will also be practical as we will be planting herbs and fruit that the children can tend to and harvest for use in the kitchen. This brings them even closer to food and gives them more responsibility which in turn boosts their self-esteem.”
