The months of meticulous planning by Tracey-Anne Cook and her amazing team at Little Gate Farm had paid off and by 11.00am the free parking field was nudging towards capacity. The word was definitely out as nearly 900 visitors (their highest footfall yet)Â plus a small army of staff, volunteers and trainees descended on Little Gate Farm for their annual Summer Saturday last weekend. The weather was on side and the crowds, who were looking forward to a very special day were definitely not disappointed.
So many supporters had given up their free time to make sure the event was a success and it was a really lovely family affair, something for everyone, regardless of age or ability. The event was not only about raising funding but as much about making sure everyone had an enjoyable day and a memorable experience, for all the right reasons.
There was the chance to win a barrow full of sunshine, a really popular double-wheeled barrow driven amongst the crowds by Little Gate Farm CEO Andrea Randall-Smith, filled with multiple prizes, kindly donated by so many generous supporters. One lucky ticket holder won the lot, so many amazing prizes, which literally filled the boot of the winners car.
The home made savouries and cakes were selling like, well, hot cakes as guests sat in the sunshine enjoying live music throughout the day. A huge marquee was at the ready in case the weather turned and inside, was a stunning display of flowers, bouquets, floral headbands, plants and charcoal, all produced on the farm by the trainees and staff.
Who can resist fish and chips? Not many, judging by the fast moving queue of eager customers for Maggie’s Fish and Chips (@maggiesfishandchipshastings). Ed’s Kitchen (@eds_kitchen) was equally popular with breakfast rolls, hot dogs and so much more and no wonder the kids loved Chocolate Balloons (@chocolateballoons) with ice cream and candy floss in plentiful supply. For those who wanted something stronger, the Little Gate Bar served both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and refreshments all day.
Have-a-go archery courtesy of Bayeux Bowman (@bayeuxbowmen) was an opportunity not to be missed. Thankfully most of the ‘would be’ archers were largely on target and the raffle and tombola had some brilliant prizes which were drawn later in the day. Talking of targets, there was a cheque presentation for money raised by Little Gate minibus driver Tony Fuller and his mates Kevin and Jason from Fuzion 4 (@fuzion4group) who smashed their original target of £700 by raising a total of £1,037 for the farm by cycling 500 ‘Miles for Smiles’ in May this year.
Little Gate Farm was a new experience for many of Saturday’s visitors who had the opportunity to explore the whole farm with guided tours. Tours of the farm gave visitors the chance to meet the animals, see the purpose-built buildings constructed by the farm using timber from their own woods and recycled materials. Visitors could also witness the rows of fresh flowers being grown, the home produced charcoal and woodland products and so much more which many didn’t expect to see.
As well as seeing the farm in action, visitors could get a real feel of what this amazing charity is all about. This is, in essence, finding paid jobs for adults with learning disabilities and autism by giving them the support needed to enable them to learn and adapt to their new future roles in the workplace. Currently, with 94% of adults with learning disabilities either in unpaid work, day care or stuck at home, you can see how vital the work of Little Gate Farm is and why their work strikes such a chord with so many people.
As 5.00pm got closer the crowds began to disperse. The day was a long one but filled with fun, laughter and entertainment, one for the memory bank that’s for sure. In total, the event raised a whopping £8,145.49! A huge thank you goes out to all who did their bit to make this such a special day, particularly all the sponsors and supporters and a special thank you to Florence Gidney for taking so many lovely photos and for allowing them to be used in this article.
You can follow the ongoing progress of Little Gate Farm at www.littlegate.org.ukÂ
Image Credits: https://www.fromflorencestudio.com/ , Little Gate Farm , Tony Fuller .