OUR HISTORY…

Park Farm has an extensive origin and history. We are associated with the National Woodcraft Folk, an educational movement dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young people. The site is managed by dedicated volunteers who are passionate about looking after the farm. These individuals play a crucial role in maintaining the farm's upkeep, ensuring a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for families and groups to explore their interests and appreciation of their connection with nature.

The Searle and Linger Family

The Searle family and Trevor Linger played a huge part in in acquiring the park farm on behalf of woodcraft. They led the opening of a charity shop and held popular events such as cabaret nights with special guest performances by well-known stars!

Although this raised a lot of money towards the farm. There was not enough to to purchase the land and Tom Searle remortgaged his family home to help pay the balance.

In setting up the site, Rene, Tom & Alan Searle drove down to park farm once a week to carry out general maintenance, which a team of volunteers still do to this day.

Tom & Alan teamed up to help build our much-loved adventure playground. Their brother peter, who was a trained electrician, managed to connect the surrounding fields to the barn to provide electricity all around the site.

Rene (Mother of Tom, Alan, Peter, Linda & Ann) used her own savings to purchase a swimming pool for the children to enjoy during hot summers.

Remembering Rene

Rene Met and married Tom Searle (Senior), who was born in a traveler’s caravan, being from a show-ground family.

They had 5 children (all members Woodcraft), 3 of them becoming leaders for over 50 years.

Park farm became a major project for them all and along with other volunteers, has enabled over 10,000 younger people to gain from the cooperative work.

Rene camped at park farm, helping facilitate groups working at the site, as she grew older, she used a small caravan by our our barn and was still on site until the age of 88 years old!

We are indebted to her for supporting woodcraft folk her entire life!