| School and Group Visits to the Millenium Orchard
 The Millennium Green as an Educational Resource
The Fairfield Millennium Green or ‘Orchard’ as it is s often known is situated within easy and safe walking distance of our local schools and nurseries.
The site covers some 2 acres (0.8 Ha), is bounded by hedgerow and is an environment in which you and your children can work in safety. The site is level with accessible paths, a few benches, log circle and picnic bench as a place to base your activity or take a well deserved break!
The Orchard has a variety of habitat areas including short and long grass, hedgerows, wild areas and mature trees. Native tree species include ash, oak, sycamore, hawthorn, lime and willow.
 Common wild flowers and shrubs such as, hedge parsley, pink campion, meadowsweet blackthorn attract butterflies and other invertebrates. The mixed habitat provides home and food for at least 30 of our common and not so common birds, including summer migrants such as swift and chiff chaff.
As the name suggests, there is a wide selection of fruit trees ranging from apples, pears and plums to more unusual medlar. In late April/early May the trees are resplendent in their covering of scented blossom.
You and your school are very welcome to use it whenever you wish. We can, In partnership with local providers of specialist education tuition help you to plan and/or deliver teaching sessions, themes and projects. We are hoping in the near future to compile a selection of information and resources for use in the Orchard.
The Orchard is close enough to our local schools to enable regular repeat visits for any ongoing project work.
Some of the curriculum areas for which the Orchard is ideally suited are:
Science and Environment
The different habitats contain many of our common invertebrates, birds and plants providing an ideal place to study food chains, inter-relationships, adaptation, identification, pollination and seed dispersal etc. Ideal for that minbeast hunt! The hawthorn and sycamore being particularly abundant in invertebrates.
Geography and Community studies
Introduction to map reading. Orienteering activities. The Orchard has several numbered posts which can be used in a variety of different ways. Simple map available.
Art
The wide variety of trees have many different leaf shapes and produce leaves of many colours and patterns. In autumn, the larger open areas can be utilized for a number of activities. Sketching, creative environmental art, making leaf prints etc.
Literacy
The sights and sounds in these tranquil surroundings provide Inspiration for creative writing, poetry and storywriting.
Local Studies and Citizenship
The Orchard was created by and is maintained by the local community. Information on its creation and continuing maintenance can be provided
Playgroups and Nursery Schools
The Orchard is an ideal place for those early year explorations and activities, a first look at nature and, of course, sunny summer picnics!
Resources
We have a small amount of equipment that can be loaned during your visit, if your school does not have resources of their own, e.g. collecting pots, nets, identification charts and books.
Activity Sheets
We are currently developing a range of Activity Sheets to support school visits:
Orchard Map
This map of the Fairfield Orchard is ideal for use as an introduction to map reading and spatial awareness. The Orchard is an enclosed and safe environment in which to do mapping activities.
The Orchard has ten numbered Orienteering ‘posts’ (indicated by red triangles on the map), which can be used in avariety of different ways.
Once downloaded, you can add extra features of your own, or get your group to find them and add them to the map e.g. benches, extra trees.
Confirming Your Visit
Although it is unlikely that you will be visiting the site at the same time as another group, it would be helpful if you could let us know when you are planning to visit.
For more information please contact Tony Finn by email on education AT fairfieldassociation DOT org (characters replaced to reduce spam), or by telephone on 01524 36426.
Useful links
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
Information about birds, pictures, activities, wildlife gardening and their local reserve at Leighton Moss, Silverdale.
http://www.rspb.org.uk
Lancashire Wildlife Trust
What it is, and its work in Lancashire. Reserves to visit.
http://www.lancswt.org.uk
North Lancashire Naturalists group
http://www.nlng.co.uk
The Woodland Trust
Lots of fun seasonal activities to do with trees, leaves etc. Downloadable activity sheets. Newsletter.
http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk
BBC Breathing places
Contains lots of activity ideas and downloadable activity sheets. The Orchard is a great habitat for bumble bees, butterflies and other wildlife. These websites have lots of information and photographs to help you learn more.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces
Bumble Bee Conservation Trust
http://www.bumblebeeconservation.org.uk
Butterfly Conservation Trust
http://www.butterfly-conservation.org.uk
Bug Life
http://www.buglife.org.uk
Amateur Entomologists' Society
The Society and its Bug Club promote the study of entomology, especially among amateurs and the younger generation. Activities, events and help with identification etc.
http://www.amentsoc.org.uk
UK Safari
http://www.uksafari.com
Plant Life
http://www.plantlife.org.uk
Waterscape
The Lancaster Canal is a short walk from the Fairfield Orchard. This website contains information about the wildlife to be found along canals and waterways, plants, dragonflies, bumble bees etc.
http://www.waterscape.com/wildlife-survey-2009
Wild Meadows
Learn more about meadows in the UK.
http://www.wildmeadows.org.uk
Grasslands Trust
Learn more about grassland in the UK.
http://www.grass-trust.org.uk
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