Pure Honeycomb have places available on their bee keeping course Saturdays 21st 28th April and 5th 12th May. See poster for contact details.

Groundwork start their Blur Gym Nordic Walking sessions from February 15th, meeting at Ouseburn Farm Tea Room. For further details including contact details to book a place on the sessions, see the poster above.

We have recently received the 2011 Ouseburn Butterfly Report, completed by Michael Jeffries, from the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, at Nortumbria University. Butterflies are an excellent indictor of the quality of the environment, and the area surrounding Ouseburn Farm continues to provide ideal conditions for butterflies and other wildlife.

To download a copy of the report click here

Having been voted for by members of the public Ouseburn Farm has won two glass giraffes created by Kenco to celebrate its new-look, less-glass jars. The giraffes were unveiled by Michaela Stracken and Chris Packham on 27th October 2011.

The two giraffes, named Connie and Stan are made of recycled glass and have been permanently donated to the community to act as a reminder of the importance of reducing waste.

David Murray and his two Fell ponies spent the night at Ouseburn Farm as a stopover on their 200 mile expedition from coast to coast in the steps of the Romans.

http://www.shadow-of-the-wall.co.uk/home.html

Nutmeg’s billy kid, Thistle has left Ouseburn Farm for the wilds of Northumberland!
He’s busy chomping thistles with 3 other goaty friends on a nature reserve near Belford.

These lovely five quail chicks hatched out on 21 July. Once they’ve grown up we’re hoping they’ll lay us some eggs.

There is a now a good supply of frozen sausages and pork roasting joints in stock. Why not tickle those taste buds and try some truly delicious locally produced meat from happy pigs?

Cumberland Rings - £7.60 per kg
100% meat, and 100% gluten free. Delicious.

Chipolatas - £7.00 per kg
Small sausages made of 90% meat.

Pork Roasting Joints - £6.50 per kg
Boneless leg and pork loin cuts in various weights from 800g to 1.9kg

We asked you to help us name our new nanny goat.
And the winner is..........

Sorrel

September 9th 2010
The Journal A “REMARKABLE” community farm was honoured with a Royal visit yesterday.

The Prince of Wales toured Ouseburn Farm in Newcastle as part of his national initiative to raise awareness of sustainable living.

After arriving at Newcastle Station by Royal Train – where he was met by the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Nigel Sherlock and Northumbria Police’s Temporary Chief Constable Sue Sim – the Prince met volunteers and workers at the Byker farm, formerly a Victorian lead works.

Praising their dedication to creating a green space within the city, Prince Charles said: “Can I just say how much I’ve enjoyed coming to see this remarkable enterprise.

“For me, the great thing is to see something which is so community-orientated and how much good it does.”

The Prince toured the site and officially opened a new project to increase the local bee population, before unveiling a commemorative plaque.

Volunteer Michael Haley, 48, helps out at the farm and was thrilled to meet the Prince.

“I thought I might see the Prince because I knew he was going to be here but then he actually came up and shook my hand and asked about what I do here,” said Michael, from Fenham.

“I told him I love working with the animals and help out every week. I’m happy he’s seeing the good work we’re trying to do here.”

Lorraine Kerr, project coordinator, also took time out from her farm duties to meet the Prince. Lorraine, who has worked at the farm for a year, said: “He was very knowledgeable about the issues. It’s great to have somebody like that on board. The visit is a real boost for the farm.”

The children of Byker Primary school also enjoyed a chat with Prince Charles, who spent several minutes quizzing the youngsters on their school’s green credentials. Harry Smith-Hampton, 10, from Byker, said: “It was great to meet the Prince. He was really nice and very well-mannered.”

Headteacher Linda Bradley said: “I’m close to tears because I’m so proud of the children. They told him all about how green our school is.”

Maurice Condie, chief executive of the Byker Bridge Housing Association, which holds the lease on the farm and employs the four full-time and four part-time staff, said: “It’s a great honour to have Prince Charles’ recognition. It took a lot of planning and we’re very glad he could be here today.”

Pupils from nearby Hotspur Primary School also met the Prince when he toured the farm’s heritage education workshop, where the children were learning a centuries-old method of grinding grain into flour.

Ouseburn Farm, formerly known as the Byker Farm, was forced to close in 2002. The buildings were demolished and animals were re-homed as it was found that the land was contaminated by a Victorian lead works which once stood there. The local community, together with Newcastle City Council, worked to have the site cleaned and a new sustainable centre has been now been built.

The Prince visited the project as part of his new START initiative to help people lead more sustainable lives and to show what a more energy efficient, cleaner and healthier future could look like and how we can all make a start.