One year ago, we unlocked the doors to The Countryside Kitchen with a simple vision.

To create a place where people of all ages could reconnect with food, farming, nature and one another.

A place where children could discover where their food comes from, where vulnerable adults could build confidence, where families could learn together, and where our farming community could find support.

We hoped it would make a difference.

What we never imagined was just how much could happen in twelve short months.

Over 1,000 People Through Our Doors

Since opening in July 2025, we have welcomed more than 1,000 children, young people and adults to The Countryside Kitchen.

Our visitors have travelled from across Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire, including:

• Primary schools
• SEND schools
• Alternative provision settings
• Community organisations
• Adults with learning disabilities
• Social prescribing groups
• Families
• Volunteers
• Rural community groups

For many of our visitors, this was their very first experience of a working farm.

In fact:

• 85% had never visited a working farm before.
• 75% had limited access to green space.
• 100% left having learned something new.

These figures remind us why this work matters.

Learning That Lasts

Every workshop is designed to be hands-on, practical and memorable.

Visitors don't simply hear about farming—they experience it.

They feed animals, plant seeds, harvest vegetables, bake bread, light campfires, explore wildlife, learn about soil health, discover where their food comes from and prepare nutritious meals together.

Along the way they build confidence, curiosity and lifelong skills.

One child proudly told us:

"I won't eat pot noodles now."

Another simply said:

"I don't want to go home."

Perhaps one of the most powerful comments came from a young visitor who quietly admitted:

"I've never left the town before."

Moments like these remind us that education is about so much more than facts—it's about opening doors to experiences that many children never have the opportunity to enjoy.

Supporting Health and Wellbeing

While food and farming are at the heart of everything we do, our workshops are really about people.

Over the past year we have welcomed adults living with mental health challenges, people recovering from addiction, individuals with learning disabilities, carers and those experiencing social isolation.

Together we have cooked, shared meals, spent time outdoors and created safe spaces where people feel valued and included.

Nature has an incredible way of slowing us down.

Cooking together creates conversations that might never happen around a table indoors.

Sometimes the greatest achievement of the day isn't the recipe—it's seeing someone smile again.

Connecting Communities

The Countryside Kitchen has become far more than an education centre.

It has become a community hub.

Our honesty shop continues to provide fresh local produce seven days a week.

This year we've also been incredibly proud to install a community defibrillator and bleed control kit, helping make our rural community safer for everyone who lives, works or visits here.

We've welcomed volunteers from all walks of life, hosted community open mornings, provided outdoor first aid training for farmers and rural communities, and created a welcoming space where people can simply come together.

Caring for the Environment

Everything we do encourages people to think differently about food.

Over the past year we've rescued more than 120kg of surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste, transforming it into healthy meals during our workshops.

Participants learn about composting, biodiversity, pollinators, growing vegetables, reducing waste and making sustainable food choices.

These aren't lessons from a textbook.

They're real experiences that people can take home and put into practice.

None of This Happens Alone

Behind every workshop is an incredible network of supporters.

Our dedicated volunteers have generously given hundreds of hours of their time.

Schools have trusted us with their pupils.

Community organisations have partnered with us to reach those who need us most.

Businesses have donated materials, expertise and equipment.

Grant funders have believed in our vision, enabling us to remove financial barriers so that many of our workshops can remain fully funded for schools and community groups.

Every single person has played a part in this story.

Thank you.

Looking Ahead

Although we're celebrating our first birthday, it feels as though we're only just getting started.

The need for accessible outdoor learning, food education and wellbeing support has never been greater.

Over the coming year we want to reach even more schools, support more vulnerable adults, expand our outdoor learning opportunities and continue breaking down barriers that prevent people from accessing experiences like these.

Because every child deserves to visit a farm.

Every adult deserves a place where they feel they belong.

And every community deserves somewhere that brings people together.

Here's to the Next Chapter

When we first imagined The Countryside Kitchen, we saw a classroom.

Today, we see something much bigger.

We see confidence growing.

Friendships forming.

Communities connecting.

Children discovering.

People healing.

And a shared belief that food, farming and nature have the power to change lives.

To everyone who has visited, volunteered, funded, partnered with us or simply cheered us on from afar—thank you for being part of our first year.

We can't wait to show you what's next.