Photos: British teens rear sheep, alpacas, goats and chickens in urban school farm

School counts dairy farmers and veterinarians among its former students

Published: December 26, 2023 12:50 Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor and with inputs from Reuters

1 of 14

Birkenhead: The rural life of rearing rare breed sheep and nurturing alpacas is a world away for many urban teenagers. Yet a British school near Liverpool has opened its pupils to a wealth of jobs in agriculture and the benefits of nature with its own farm. Image Credit: Reuters

2 of 14

The Woodchurch High School farm opened 13 years ago, becoming a haven that nurtures the mental health and confidence of its students. Image Credit: Reuters

3 of 14

Based in the town of Birkenhead, which faces Liverpool across the River Mersey, the school counts dairy farmers and veterinarians among its former students who say the school's farm is the reason they found their calling in life. Image Credit: Reuters

4 of 14

Woodchurch itself ranks in the top 10% of local areas in England for income deprivation. Last month local authorities announced that the nearby leisure centre would be demolished. Image Credit: Reuters

5 of 14

And with UK social mobility at its lowest ebb in over 50 years, restricting people from moving to a higher income level, the farm's ability to expose its students to people and professions far removed from the school's urban trappings is more important than ever. Image Credit: Reuters

6 of 14

"It is really important that (young people) have an opportunity to achieve, to thrive, to actually show skills," headteacher Rebekah Phillips said, adding that it had also helped support social and emotional development. Image Credit: Reuters

7 of 14

Each year the students compete in the prestigious Royal Cheshire and Westmorland county shows, displaying skills gained by looking after their sheep, alpacas, goats and chickens. Image Credit: Reuters

8 of 14

Many have won prizes and acclaim from farming experts. "The farming and agricultural communities have opened their arms to us," Linda Hackett, the farm manager, said. Image Credit: Reuters

9 of 14

Year 10 pupil Ella-Rose Mitchinson, 14, was awarded Student of the Year 2023 by the School Farms Network - a collection of 140 schools, many from rural communities. Image Credit: Reuters

10 of 14

For her, the farm represents a safe space, away from the world of social media and the rigours of teenage life. "It lets me breathe," she said, adding that she dreams of becoming a veterinary nurse. Image Credit: Reuters

11 of 14

Former pupil Sophie Tedesco, 27, now works as a dairy farmer in Shropshire, having first tasted farm life at the school before she left it in 2013. "It opened my eyes to the agricultural world," she says. "It was just completely different to what we were used to and I just loved it," she said. Image Credit: Reuters

12 of 14

Increasingly the school is recognised as a centre for conservation - due to a stroke of luck when it was gifted North Ronaldsay sheep at the farm's opening in 2010. Image Credit: Reuters

13 of 14

Originally from Orkney, the sheep are listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as one of four "priority" breeds - the charity's highest grade of concern. Image Credit: Reuters

14 of 14

Headteacher Phillips says other schools have shown interest in the farm, but she laments the fact that it is never taken into consideration in the country's academic review system, despite the broader community impact. "We have never had one bit of vandalism, ever, in 13 years," Phillips said. "I think the worst incident we ever had was the uproar when a child fed a sheep a crisp." Image Credit: Reuters

Photos News

Photos: British teens rear sheep, alpacas, goats and chickens in urban school farm

More From Photos

Bank of England freezes rate after jumbo US cut

Evacuations as tail of Storm Boris floods northeast Italy

Late Harrods owner Al Fayed accused of rape: BBC

Deadly Portugal wildfires force new evacuations

GULFNEWS SECTIONS

Trending

Photos: British teens rear sheep, alpacas, goats and chickens in urban school farm

More From Photos

Bank of England freezes rate after jumbo US cut

Evacuations as tail of Storm Boris floods northeast Italy

Late Harrods owner Al Fayed accused of rape: BBC

Deadly Portugal wildfires force new evacuations

GULFNEWS SECTIONS