Grown by Nature – Hawthorns Farm is a unique environment where learners can learn and develop with nature.

We are extremely fortunate at MIAG to have provision at a 33-acre farm, located at Backwell, Bristol.

The farm is run by Rob Morris and a small staff team who offer a unique learning environment for our learners. Rob is a qualified Forest School Leader and uses Forest School principles to support our learners to have opportunities to learn a variety of new skills and to take responsibility for day-to-day farm tasks that include animal care, rowing produce, site maintenance, bushcraft and learning to live off the land .

Learners who access the farm have opportunity to work with, and care for a range of animals that include:

They also have access to a fantastic bushcraft area; vegetable plantation area; large pond and acres of fields. This is truly a unique outdoor learning experience where learners thrive.

As with all of our provision offers our learners curriculum is bespoke but will include Literacy, Numeracy and PSHE, albeit within our various environments this may not be obvious to the learner as they are taught differently – “Not all classrooms have four walls”.

The Farm provision is based on the principles of a Forest School and is MIAG’s extension of this into Key Stage 3 & 4. Learners accessing the Farm are aged 11 – 16, all learners will be receiving alternative provision within MIAG and will access the farm for up to 10 hours of their provision per week.

The number of hours that learners access will depend upon their level of interest, need, and individualised curriculum. Risk assessments for all learners at the farm will be developed with the learner, their families and farm staff and are subject to regular review.

Our learners will experience a wide range of activities delivered through outdoor learning, and based upon Forest School principles some examples of activities are:

This list is not exhaustive and learning experiences are designed in line with the Learner’s interests and needs. All of our activities fulfil the requirements of the Forest School ethos and raise self-awareness, encourage respect, support team work and co-operation.

The Farm is currently based at Backwell, Bristol. Rob and his team work with a small number of learners currently, most of whom hold an Education, Health, Care Plan (EHCP). Referrals for the farm are not accepted directly at this time and provision is made for individuals as part of their overall MIAG package.